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Re-activateI bought a dietary supplement that lists polyethylene glycol as an ingredient. Is that chemical also used in antifreeze? --D.E., by e-mail
No. The poisonous liquid that cools your car is ethylene glycol, a toxic cousin of polyethylene glycol. The latter is a popular ingredient in many drugs and personal-care products and appears to pose few risks when used in appropriate amounts. It's sometimes taken by itself as a laxative (MiraLax) and as a bowel cleanser before a colonoscopy (CoLyte, GoLYTELY). It's also added to drugs to hold them together or slow their release in the body, and it's often included in skin lotions, soaps, and toothpastes, among other products.
Concerned about the ingredients your supplements? Find out what you can do to avoid risky supplements and look up safety information on your supplements in our Natural Medicines database (subscribers only).
—Aaron Bailey
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