Poloxamer 407

Poloxamer 407 or polyethylene-polypropylene glycol is a hydrophilic non-ionic surfactant of the more general class of copolymers known as poloxamers. As such, it is widely used in cosmetics for dissolving oily ingredients in water. It can also be found in multi-purpose contact lens cleaning solutions. Its purpose there is to help remove lipid films from the lens. It can also be found in some mouthwashes.

Perhaps adverse to health Reported in The Australian newspaper 18 November 2006 that this common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash can cause high cholesterol. A team from the Centre for Ageing and the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney found that when P407 was given to mice, it coated cells in the liver that control cholesterol levels, leading to a 10-fold increase in levels. The amounts given were not reported in the article.