By convention, specific symbols represent certain sample statistics. For example, 1  x refers to a sample mean. 2  s refers to the standard deviation of a sample. 3  s 2 refers to the variance of a sample. 4  p refers to the proportion of sample elements that have a particular attribute.
As the name implies, lubricant laxatives make stools slippery. The mineral oil within these products adds a slick layer to the intestine's walls and stops the stool from drying out. Though highly effective, lubricant laxatives are best used as a short-term cure for constipation. Over a longer period, mineral oil can absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the intestine, and decrease certain prescription drugs from being fully absorbed into the body.
Your doctor may recommend mineral oil to treat stool that is impacted, or trapped, in the large intestine. Olive oil is a mild lubricant laxative, but it only helps relieve constipation if you consume more than the small intestine can absorb, reported the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2012. The oil must pass through the small intestine and into the large intestine before it has a laxative effect.