Mineral Oil

Brand Names: Agoral Plain, Fleet Mineral Oil, Kondremul, Kondremul Plain, Lansoyl, Liqui-Doss, Milkinol, Neo-Cultrol, Petrogalar Plain, V-Lax, Zymenol

Clinical Names: Mineral Oil

Summary

generic name: Mineral Oil

trade names: Agoral Plain®, Fleet Mineral Oil®, Kondremul®, Kondremul Plain®, Lansoyl®, Liqui-Doss®, Milkinol®, Neo-Cultrol®, Petrogalar Plain®, V-Lax®, Zymenol®

type of drug: Emollient or lubricant laxative, stool softener

used to treat: Constipation, hemmorhoids (internally); as part of some topical skin preparations.

adverse drug effects: Ingestion of mineral oil may chronically irritate the lining of the intestines because they often react to it as a foreign substance.

overview of interactions:
• substance affecting drug performance: Coumarin

• substance affecting drug performance: Various drugs, including Oral Contraceptives

• nutrients affected by drug: Fat soluble vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K); Beta-carotene, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium

• nutritional support: Multiple Vitamin/Mineral Combination



Interactions

substance affecting drug performance: Coumarin

• mechanism: When used with mineral oil, coumarin anticoagulants exert an increased anticoagulant activity due to the impairment of vitamin K absorption. Normally vitamin K works with a regulatory protein at the ribosomal level to control prothrombin synthesis. However, vitamin K from dietary sources, such as green vegetables, and manufactured by probiotic gut bacteria can be absorbed by the mineral oil and become unavailable for production of prothrombin. As a result, coumarin has a much greater effect when taken in conjunction with mineral oil. Even so, there is also the possibility that the mineral oil could reduce absorption of anticoagulant from digestive tract.

substance affecting drug performance: Various drugs, including Oral Contraceptives

• mechanism: Mineral oil is a lipid solvent and may absorb drugs as well as nutrients. Chronic use of mineral oil may result in increased gut motility with decreased absorption as the foods pass through the intestines more rapidly. As a result, foods, supplements and medications have reduced opportunity to be absorbed through the intestinal wall. When taken too closely together over an extended period of time, mineral oil may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives as the estrogens are absorbed by the mineral oil. Mineral oil can also cause decreased effect of nonabsorbable sulfonamide in GI tract.

nutrients affected by drug: Fat soluble vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K); Beta-carotene, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium

• mechanism: Mineral oil, as a lipid solvent, may absorb many substances and/or interfere with normal absorption of these nutrients.

• research: While there is some disagreement, most research has found that mineral oil interferes with the absorption of many nutrients, including beta-carotene, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, D, K, and E. Chronic use of mineral oil can cause a deficiency of vitamins A, D, E, and K, being fat soluble, as a result of their being not being assimilated properly. This is especially problematic during pregnancy as the regular ingestion of mineral oil may reduce the absorption of critical nutrients. As noted above, the malabsorption of vitamin K can result in an increased anticoagulant activity by coumarin anticoagulants due to this adverse effect of mineral oil.
(Clark JH, et al. Am J Dis Child 1987 Nov;141(11):1210-1212 ; Holt GA.1998, 176.)

• nutritional concerns: If using mineral oil for any extended period of time, regular use of a multivitamin supplement, containing more than 100 mcg of vitamin K per daily dose, would be beneficial. Malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins due to ingestion of mineral oil can be minimized by administering mineral oil on an empty stomach or consuming vitamin or mineral supplements at least two hours before or after the mineral oil. In general it is advisable to limit the internal use of mineral oil to periods of less than one week.

nutritional support: Multiple Vitamin/Mineral Combination

• general caution: Toxicity, including pneumonia, has been associated with accidental inhalation of mineral oil. Safer and more fundamental approaches to addressing the constipation are available and carry significantly less risk. Constipation can be best managed by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and drinking at least six glasses of water daily.

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Do not rely solely on the information in this article.

The information presented in Interactions is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, case reports, and/or traditional usage with sources as cited in each topic. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals and different individuals with the same medical conditions with the same symptoms will often require differing treatments. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with conventional medical therapies, including prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, is also available. Consult your physician, an appropriately trained healthcare practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health concern or medical problem before using any herbal products or nutritional supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications and/or before attempting to independently treat a medical condition using supplements, herbs, remedies, or other forms of self-care.


References

Clark JH, Russell GJ, Fitzgerald JF, Nagamori KE. Serum beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol levels during mineral oil therapy for constipation. Am J Dis Child 1987 Nov;141(11):1210-1212 .
Abstract: Twenty-five children with chronic constipation underwent serial monitoring of serum beta-carotene, retinol (vitamin A1), and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels during mineral oil therapy. Mineral oil was administered between meals. Patients were monitored for up to four months of therapy. Mean serum beta-carotene levels fell from 1.0 +/- 0.5 mumol/L (55.7 +/- 26.0 micrograms/dL) to 0.7 +/- 0.4 mumol/L (35.9 +/- 22.1 micrograms/dL) after the first month of mineral oil therapy and remained depressed throughout the remainder of the study. Serum alpha-tocopherol levels remained unchanged throughout the observation period. There was a modest increase in serum retinol levels during the study, especially after three months (from 1.48 +/- 0.84 mumol/L [42.3 +/- 24.1 micrograms/dL] to 2.22 +/- 0.77 mumol/L [63.5 +/- 22.1 micrograms/dL]). We conclude that while a short course of mineral oil can induce a reduction in the serum level of beta-carotene, the treatment has no adverse effect on serum levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol.

Holt GA. Food and Drug Interactions. Chicago: Precept Press, 1998, 176.

Prigal SJ.  Mineral oil and the FDA. Ann Allergy. 1966 Feb;24(2):85-87.

Vimy Park Pharmacy Health Magazine. Drug Caution Letter Code J - Possible Interaction With Mineral Oil, Bulk Forming Laxatives and Antidiarrhea Medications. 1998.