Interesting!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-Glucose
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/sugar-free-...
What's used medically for this purpose (e.g. before a colonoscopy) is an osmotically balanced solution of polyethylene glycol, typically referred to as Macrogol.
Takes a couple of hours of continuous sipping, close to 1 liter total for an adult to get everything flushed, then you'll be discharging almost clear fluid by the end.
A bit dramatic, considering these are widely food additives to things like gummy bears in similar amounts and stories abound about their effect.
A one time event is unlikely to do too much damage unless you’re already sick.
People should generally not be taking laxatives repeatedly for a prolonged period unless they have a prescribed indication.
> an osmotically balanced solution of polyethylene glycol, typically referred to as Macrogol.
It’s quite common in the US to do plain old miralax and G2 gatorade for outpatient colon prep. There is some controversy about this. But there isn’t much evidence that “osmotically balanced” (the whole concept of osmotic balance is suspect for an osmotic laxative - that works because of its inherent imbalance) has any meaningful benefit other than selling something that sounds good with little evidence.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21217-miralax...
People that get into trouble are typically abusing laxatives or have chronic kidney, liver or heart disease that put them at risk.
Does was 24 grams. For reference, a 12 ounce can of coke has 39 grams of sugar.
However, this was not a double blind study, so mileage my vary.