Calcium gluconate

Calcium gluconate
Clinical data
PronunciationKAL-see-um GLUE-koe-nate
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intravenous, topical
ATC code
Identifiers
  • calcium (2R,3S,4R,5R)- 2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
E numberE578 (acidity regulators, ...) Edit this at Wikidata
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.005.524 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC12H22CaO14
Molar mass430.372 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point120 °C (248 °F) (decomposes)
Solubility in waterslowly soluble
  • [Ca+2].[O-]C(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO.[O-]C(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO
  • InChI=1S/2C6H12O7.Ca/c2*7-1-2(8)3(9)4(10)5(11)6(12)13;/h2*2-5,7-11H,1H2,(H,12,13);/q;;+2/p-2/t2*2-,3-,4+,5-;/m11./s1
  • Key:NEEHYRZPVYRGPP-IYEMJOQQSA-L

Calcium gluconate is the calcium salt of gluconic acid and is used as a mineral supplement and medication.[1] As a medication it is used by injection into a vein to treat low blood calcium, high blood potassium, and magnesium toxicity.[1][2] Supplementation is generally only required when there is not enough calcium in the diet.[3] Supplementation may be done to treat or prevent osteoporosis or rickets.[1] It can also be taken by mouth but is not recommended for injection into a muscle.[1]

Side effects when injected include slow heart rate, pain at the site of injection, and low blood pressure.[3] When taken by mouth side effects may include constipation and nausea.[1] Blood calcium levels should be measured when used and extra care should be taken in those with a history of kidney stones.[3] At normal doses, use is regarded as safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.[1][4] Calcium gluconate is made by mixing gluconic acid with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide.[5]

Calcium gluconate came into medical use in the 1920s.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] Calcium gluconate is available as a generic medication.[2][8]

It is closely related to calcium borogluconate, which is commonly used in veterinary medicine owning to its higher solubility. [9] It is used for intravenous administration of calcium, notably in ruminants.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Calcium Salts". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 680, 694. ISBN 9780857111562.
  3. ^ a b c World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 497. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  4. ^ "Calcium gluconate Use During Pregnancy | Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. ^ Bhattacharya S (2014). Conventional and Advanced Food Processing Technologies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 391. ISBN 9781118406304. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  6. ^ Tegethoff FW (2012). Calcium Carbonate: From the Cretaceous Period into the 21st Century. Birkhäuser. p. 308. ISBN 9783034882453. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  7. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  8. ^ "Competitive Generic Therapy Approvals". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ Macpherson HT, Stewart J (January 1938). "Investigations on the nature of calcium borogluconate". Biochem Journal. 32 (1): 76–78. doi:10.1042/bj0320076. PMC 1263995. PMID 16746604.
  10. ^ Constable, P (November 2003). "Fluid and electrolyte therapy in ruminants". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 19 (3): 557–597. doi:10.1016/S0749-0720(03)00054-9. PMID 14608802.