Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Changes Stool Consistency and the Microbiome but not Behavior of CD1 Mice
Abstract
Objectives: Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (PEG3350) is a laxative commonly used to treat constipation in children. The Food and Drug Administration has received reports of increased anxiety, aggression, and obsessive‐‐compulsive behaviors in children administered PEG3350. Thus, we assessed whether daily administration of PEG3350 leads to anxiety‐like behavior in mice. Methods: Outbred CD‐1 IGS mice were administered either a high or a low dose of PEG3350 via daily oral gavage for 2 weeks. As a laxative comparison and control, additional mice were given a high or low dose of magnesium citrate or vehicle (water). Weight and stool consistency were assessed after each gavage to determine laxative effectiveness. Anxiety‐like behaviors were assessed using light/dark, open field, and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests at baseline, after 2 weeks of daily gavage, and after a 2 week washout in experiment 1, and after 2 weeks of daily gavage in experiment 2. Stool samples were collected for microbiome analysis in experiment 2 at baseline, after 2 weeks of daily gavage, and after 2 weeks washout. Results: PEG3350 and magnesium citrate significantly changed stool consistency, as well as microbiome alpha and beta diversity. Anxiety‐like behaviors were not, however, different in mice administered low or high doses of PEG3350 or magnesium citrate. Conclusions: Although changes in stool consistency and the gut microbiome occurred, administration of PEG3350 did not alter anxiety‐like behaviors.
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There is no evidence that the use of PEG is associated with neurotoxicity.
“There is no evidence that the use of PEG is associated with neurotoxicity, a concern raised by anecdotal reports.”
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- Authors
- Salman, S. S., Williams, K. C., Marte‐Ortiz, P., Rumpf, W., Mashburn‐Warren, L., Lauber, C. L., Bailey, M. T., & Maltz, R. M.
- Affiliations
- Nationwide Children's Hospital (US)
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide at Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus OH
- Institute for Genomic Medicine Columbus OH
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Salman, Salman S.
- Williams, Kent C.
- Maltz, Ross M.
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-07-07
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 499-506
- ISSN
- 0277-2116 (ISSN-L)
- 1536-4801
- OpenAlex
- W3182725775
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Congenital gastrointestinal and neural anomalies
- Keywords
- polyethylene glycol 3350, laxatives, constipation, anxiety-like behavior, gut microbiota, stool consistency, magnesium citrate, ICR mice, elevated plus maze, open field, light/dark test
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Polyethylene Glycols, Treatment Outcome, Mice, Laxatives
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