What Is Calcium gluconate?

Learn about the chelating and skin conditioning (assorted) characteristics of Calcium gluconate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Calcium gluconate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Calcium gluconate?

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Calcium gluconate is a white powder that dissolves in water and has no smell. It can be used in cosmetics to condition the skin and help remove impurities. It is also used as a food additive to improve texture, firmness, and stability. Additionally, it can be used as an anticaking agent in powdered coffee. Calcium gluconate is made from calcium and D-gluconic acid or the salt of calcium and gluconic acid.

What is the purpose of Calcium gluconate in personal care products? It is used for its chelating and skin conditioning (assorted) characteristics. Calcium gluconate prevents ingredient degradation and helps restore dry or damaged skin.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Calcium Gluconate, Calcium di(D-gluconate), and "D-Gluconic acid, calcium salt (2:1)".

What Are Chelating Ingredients?

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Calcium gluconate has chelating characteristics.

Chelating ingredients in cosmetic products help maintain the product's effectiveness and stability by preventing degradation. They work by binding to metal ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, that can be present in the water used to make the product or that may be present on the skin.

These metal ions can cause the cosmetic product to deteriorate over time, leading to color, texture, and odor changes. Chelating ingredients help to prevent this by capturing the metal ions and preventing them from reacting with the other ingredients in the product.

In addition, chelating ingredients can help enhance preservatives' effectiveness by preventing them from being deactivated by metal ions.

Chelating Ingredients in Other Products

Chelating ingredients can be used in food and beverages to control metal ions affecting taste, color, and texture. For example, they stabilize colors in canned fruits and vegetables and prevent oxidation in wine.

Chelating agents are used in pharmaceutical products to help improve their stability and shelf life. They can help to prevent metal-catalyzed degradation and enhance the effectiveness of certain drugs.

Types of Chelating Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of chelating ingredients:

  • Amino acids and peptides: These compounds contain functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions, such as carboxylic acid and amine groups.

  • Polycarboxylic acids: These are complex organic acids with multiple carboxylic acid functional groups that can form strong chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Organic acids: These include citric acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Sugars and sugar acids: These include compounds such as glucose, fructose, and gluconic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Polyamines: These are organic compounds with multiple amine functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions.

  • Hydroxycarboxylic acids: These include compounds such as gluconic acid and tartaric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Sulfonic acids: These are organic acids containing functional groups that can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

  • Phosphates: These include compounds such as phosphoric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.

What Are Skin Conditioning (assorted) Ingredients?

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Calcium gluconate has skin conditioning (assorted) characteristics.

Skin conditioning ingredients are specifically designed to help reduce flakiness and restore suppleness to dry or damaged skin. They work by improving the skin's natural barrier function and helping to retain moisture, which can lead to a more youthful and healthy-looking complexion.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.