Editing Glycerol (section)

===Medical===
[[File:Glycerin bottle.jpg|thumb|A bottle of glycerin purchased at a pharmacy]]
[[File:Gleitmittel Personal Lubricants.jpg|thumb|Personal lubricants commonly contain glycerol]]
[[File:Dollop of hair gel.jpg|thumb|Glycerol is an ingredient in products such as hair gel]]
[[File:Glycerin suppositories.jpg|thumb|right|Glycerol suppositories used as laxatives]]

Glycerol is used in [[medicine|medical]], [[pharmaceutical]] and [[personal care]] preparations, often as a means of improving smoothness, providing [[lubrication]], and as a [[humectant]].

[[Ichthyosis]] and [[xerosis]] have been relieved by the topical use of glycerin.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ichthyosis: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional|date=22 July 2013|publisher=[[ScholarlyEditions]]|language=en|isbn=9781481659666|page=22}}</ref><ref name="LebwohlHeymann2017">{{cite book|title=Treatment of Skin Disease E-Book: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies|date=19 September 2017|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|language=en|isbn=9780702069130 |author=Mark G. Lebwohl |author2=Warren R. Heymann |author3=John Berth-Jones |author4=Ian Coulson}}</ref> It is found in allergen [[Immunotherapy|immunotherapies]], [[cough syrup]]s, [[elixir]]s and [[expectorant]]s, [[toothpaste]], [[mouthwash]]es, [[skin care]] products, shaving cream, [[hair care]] products, [[soap]]s, and water-based [[personal lubricant]]s. In solid dosage forms like tablets, glycerol is used as a tablet holding agent. For human consumption, glycerol is classified by the FDA among the [[sugar alcohol]]s as a caloric macronutrient. Glycerol is also used in [[blood bank]]ing to preserve [[red blood cell]]s prior to freezing.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Lagerberg
| first = Johan W.
| chapter = Cryopreservation of Red Blood Cells
| title = Cryopreservation and Freeze-Drying Protocols
| series = [[Methods in Molecular Biology]]
| publisher = [[Humana Press]]
| year = 2015
| volume = 1257
| pages = 353–367
| doi = 10.1007/978-1-4939-2193-5_17
| pmid = 25428017
| isbn = 978-1-4939-2192-8
}}</ref>

Taken rectally, glycerol functions as a [[laxative]] by irritating the anal mucosa and inducing a [[Osmotic laxative|hyperosmotic effect]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.drugs.com/cdi/glycerin-enema.html |title= Glycerin Enema |publisher= Drugs.com |access-date= 17 November 2012 |archive-date= 6 November 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121106235146/http://www.drugs.com/cdi/glycerin-enema.html |url-status= live }}</ref> expanding the [[Large intestine|colon]] by drawing water into it to induce [[peristalsis]] resulting in [[Defecation|evacuation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/glycerin-enema |title=glycerin enema |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=[[National Cancer Institute]] |access-date=2019-05-02 |date=2 February 2011 |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502220442/https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/glycerin-enema |url-status=live }}</ref> It may be administered undiluted either as a [[suppository]] or as a small-volume (2–10&nbsp;ml) [[enema]]. Alternatively, it may be administered in a dilute solution, such as 5%, as a high-volume enema.<ref>{{Citation |author=E. Bertani |author2=A. Chiappa |author3=R. Biffi |author4=P. P. Bianchi |author5=D. Radice |author6=V. Branchi |author7=S. Spampatti |author8=I. Vetrano |author9=B. Andreoni | title = Comparison of oral polyethylene glycol plus a large volume glycerine enema with a large volume glycerine enema alone in patients undergoing colorectal surgery for malignancy: a randomized clinical trial  | journal = Colorectal Disease | volume = 13 | issue = 10  | pages = e327–e334 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21689356  | doi = 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2011.02689.x  | s2cid = 32872781}}</ref>

Taken orally (often mixed with fruit juice to reduce its sweet taste), glycerol can cause a rapid, temporary decrease in the [[Intraocular pressure|internal pressure of the eye]]. This can be useful for the initial emergency treatment of severely elevated eye pressure.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601713 |title= Glycerin (Oral Route) |publisher= Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research |access-date= 17 November 2012 |archive-date= 27 November 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121127150445/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601713 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 2017, researchers showed that the probiotic ''[[Limosilactobacillus reuteri]]'' bacteria can be supplemented with glycerol to enhance its production of antimicrobial substances in the human gut. This was confirmed to be as effective as the antibiotic [[vancomycin]] at inhibiting ''[[Clostridioides difficile]]'' infection without having a significant effect on the overall microbial composition of the gut.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Spinler |first1=Jennifer K. |last2=Auchtung |first2=Jennifer |last3=Brown |first3=Aaron |last4=Boonma |first4=Prapaporn |last5=Oezguen |first5=Numan |last6=Ross |first6=Caná L. |last7=Luna |first7=Ruth Ann |last8=Runge |first8=Jessica |last9=Versalovic |first9=James |last10=Peniche |first10=Alex |last11=Dann |first11=Sara M. |date=October 2017 |title=Next-Generation Probiotics Targeting ''Clostridium difficile'' through Precursor-Directed Antimicrobial Biosynthesis |journal=Infection and Immunity |volume=85 |issue=10 |pages=e00303–17 |doi=10.1128/IAI.00303-17 |issn=1098-5522 |pmc=5607411 |pmid=28760934}}</ref>

Glycerol has also been incorporated as a component of [[bio-ink]] formulations in the field of [[3D bioprinting|bioprinting]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Atala|first1=Anthony|last2=Yoo|first2=James J.|last3=Carlos Kengla|last4=Ko|first4=In Kap|last5=Lee|first5=Sang Jin|last6=Kang|first6=Hyun-Wook|date=March 2016|title=A 3D bioprinting system to produce human-scale tissue constructs with structural integrity|journal=Nature Biotechnology|volume=34|issue=3|pages=312–319|doi=10.1038/nbt.3413|pmid=26878319|s2cid=9073831|issn=1546-1696}}</ref> The glycerol content acts to add viscosity to the bio-ink without adding large protein, saccharide, or glycoprotein molecules.