I did not find the detail article on mineral oil but I did find one from Doctor Henry D. Janowitz in the book "Your Gut Feelings". He writes "Lubricants, of which mineral oil is best known and longest used, are not absorbed in the intestine and thus supply "oil" to the intestinal tract, where they lubricate the hard stool in the colon of the chronically constipated person. They can be habit forming and interfere with the absorbtion of certain vitamins (those that dissolve in fat)" I don't know which vitamins dissolve in fat but if you find out and take additional supplements then maybe that will offset this. It does seem to be much better than taking any kind of stimulant which we all know can cause more problems than they help. And it has to be better than having things stop! I will ask my GI when I go in for my follow up appointment. Take care. Ginny