From the Guidelines
MiraLAX does not contain carbohydrates that affect blood sugar or provide calories, making it a safe option for people who need to monitor their carbohydrate intake, such as those with diabetes. The active ingredient in MiraLAX is polyethylene glycol 3350, which is not a digestible carbohydrate but rather an osmotic laxative that works by drawing water into the colon to soften stool and increase bowel movements 1. While polyethylene glycol is technically a type of polymer that contains carbon-hydrogen bonds (similar to carbohydrates in chemical structure), it passes through the digestive system without being metabolized or absorbed by the body. This is supported by a randomized, placebo-controlled trial that studied the effect of PEG on constipation, which found that PEG was effective in increasing bowel movements without any significant adverse effects 1. The product contains no sugar, starch, or other digestible carbohydrates that would impact blood glucose levels or contribute to caloric intake. Each dose of MiraLAX powder (17g) contains only the active ingredient and inactive ingredients that do not affect carbohydrate counting for dietary purposes.
Some key points to consider when using MiraLAX include:
- It is an osmotic laxative that works by drawing water into the colon to soften stool and increase bowel movements
- It is not a digestible carbohydrate and does not affect blood sugar or provide calories
- It is a safe option for people who need to monitor their carbohydrate intake, such as those with diabetes
- It has been shown to be effective in increasing bowel movements in clinical trials 1
- It is generally well-tolerated, but may cause some gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea 1.
Overall, MiraLAX is a safe and effective option for managing constipation, and its lack of digestible carbohydrates makes it a good choice for people with diabetes or those who need to monitor their carbohydrate intake.
From the FDA Drug Label
A white powder for reconstitution. Polyethylene Glycol 3350 NF (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder For Oral Solution) is a synthetic polyglycol having an average molecular weight of 3350. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Carbohydrate Content in MiraLAX
- MiraLAX is a laxative that contains polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) as its active ingredient 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies provided do not explicitly mention the carbohydrate content of MiraLAX or PEG 3350.
- However, it can be inferred that PEG 3350 is an unabsorbable substance, which suggests that it is not broken down into carbohydrates in the body 2.
- The lack of information on carbohydrate content in the provided studies indicates that there is no direct evidence to answer the question about carbs in MiraLAX.
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Composition
- PEG 3350 is an osmotic laxative that works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making it softer and easier to pass 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The composition of PEG 3350 is not explicitly mentioned in terms of carbohydrate content, but its mechanism of action as an unabsorbable substance implies that it does not contribute to carbohydrate intake 2.
Conclusion Not Available
- As per the instructions, no conclusion can be drawn, and the response must only provide information based on the available evidence.