Lactulose is a synthetic galactosylfructose disaccharide used in the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy.
Definition
Lactulose is a synthetic galactosylfructose disaccharide used in the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy. It has a role as a laxative and a gastrointestinal drug.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 9U7D5QH5AE · registered name Lactulose · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: Safety Assessment of Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Related Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 4618-18-2
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 225-027-7
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID5045833
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID3025833
- IUPAC
- 4-O-beta-D-Galactopyranosyl-beta-D-fructofuranose
- Molecular formula
- C12H22O11
- Molecular weight
- 342.297 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Solid · Clear light yellow crystalline powder
- Melting point
- 169 °C
- Solubility
- Soluble in cold water, hot water. Solubility in water: 76.4% @ 30 deg. C · 764.0 mg/mL
- Colour
- Clear light yellow crystalline powder
- pH
- 4.8
- Melting/freezing point
- 169 ℃(deg C)
- Water solubility
- 764000 ㎎/ℓ (30deg C)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- -4.670
- Molecular weight
- 342.296
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 2 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Softener and conditioner1
- Humectant1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- EFFECT OF LACTULOSE-CONTAINING PREBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE VETELAKT ON CALIFORNIA BREED RABBITS MEAT PRODUCTIVITY · 2026
- Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Combination Therapy with Topical Nifedipine (0.3%) Plus Lignocaine (1.5%), Sitz Bath and Oral Lactulose on Acute Fissure-In-Ano · 2025
- Influence of Ingestion of Lactulose on γ-Lactones Emanating from Human Skin Surface · 2023
- Prebiotic effect of lactulose on ammonia emanating from human skin surface · 2020
- Lactulose to the Rescue: A Case of Toxic Hepatic Encephalopathy Caused by Portosystemic Shunting and Epistaxis in a Patient with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia · 2018
Linked databases 15
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese