What is calcium glycerophosphate?
According to the definition of United States Pharmacopeia (USP), Calcium Glycerophosphate is a mixture, in variable proportions, of calcium (RS)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl phosphate and calcium 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl phosphate, which may be hydrated.
Calcium Glycerophosphate contains NLT 18.6% and NMT 19.4% of calcium (Ca), calculated on the dried basis. To be specific, the commercial quantity of calcium glycerophosphate is a mixture of calcium b-, and D-, and L-a-glycerophosphate.
Physical features of calcium glycerophosphate
Calcium glycerophosphate is a fine white crystalline powder, usually odorless, almost tasteless, and slightly hygroscopic. The molecular formula is C3H7CaO6P and its unique CAS Reg. No. is 27214–00–2.
Calcium glycerophosphate VS conventional calcium supplements
Calcium glycerophosphate is a source of highly bioavailable calcium supplement ingredient and is more readily absorbed, providing phosphorus through glycerophosphate, a precursor of phospholipids in the body.
All of the superior features are characterized by its anion glycerophosphate. Calcium phosphate, the precursor of calcium glycerophosphate, represents a group of calcium salts and minerals that are important for healthy bones and teeth. In fact, bone and teeth are largely comprised of calcium phosphate and its derivatives.
In addition, Calcium glycerophosphate is not just a source of calcium, it is also a source of phosphorus element. Phosphorus is an essential mineral that is required by every cell in the body for normal function. Bound to oxygen in all biological systems, phosphorus is found as phosphate (PO43-) in your body. Approximately 85% of the body’s phosphorus is found in bones and teeth.
Calcium Glycerophosphate Safety
Calcium glycerophosphate is a relatively new dietary ingredient that falls in the category of calcium supplements, but more well-known in the pharma medicine sector.
Calcium glycerophosphate has been archived in the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), European Pharmacopeia (EP), etc. for many years. As a pharmacopeia ingredient in so many countries, the safety status of calcium glycerophosphate is guaranteed.
Calcium glycerophosphate has been declared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally safe when used as a daily dietary supplement. The FDA’s testing concluded that none of the minerals in the compound are dangerous under normal conditions and they suspect no safety hazards associated with the compound in the future.
In addition, calcium glycerophosphate meets the food grade requirement of the ‘‘Food Chemicals Codex’’(FCC) and is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
Calcium glycerophosphate specifications
Calcium glycerophosphate is mainly in two forms on the market.: powder form and liquid form (Calcium Glycerophosphate 50% liquid).
Of course, pharmaceutical-grade form and FCC grade form. Calcium glycerophosphate from Cima science is mainly for supplement purpose, and our specifications is in powder form, with specification 99% min.
Benefits of calcium glycerophosphate
calcium glycerophosphate is widely used in beverages, toothpaste, supplements and dairy products for its various benefits. what is calcium glycerophosphate good for exactly? The three key benefits can be summarized as below: interstitial cystitis support, tooth health, and a source of calcium element.
Calcium glycerophosphate for interstitial cystitis
One of the best known and best-documented health benefits associated with calcium glycerophosphate is for interstitial cystitis.
According to Wikipedia, Interstitial Cystitis (abbreviated as IC), also known as Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS), is a chronic bladder health issue, a condition that leads to frequent urination and poor bladder control due to chronic inflammation of the bladder.
How does Calcium glycerophosphate work?
The detailed mechanism of action for interstitial cystitis is still not so clear. However, researchers believe that the habit of eating a diet high in acidic foods is a crucial contributing factor.
Calcium glycerophosphate is able to neutralize acids in foods. In other words, it is able to decrease the acidity of the foods as well as the hydrochloric acid found in the stomach. These top acid foods include coffee, chocolate, carbonated beverages, alcohol/wine, acidic fruits/juices, tomato sauce, spices, nitrates, nitrites, artificial sweeteners, vitamin C+B6, highly allergenic foods, etc.
It’s hard to prevent people with interstitial cystitis from acid foods. Be sure to take calcium glycerophosphate supplement before eating acidic foods.
supplementing calcium element
Calcium glycerophosphate is proved to be the most efficient salt for bone calcification. Phosphorus helps calcium retention that raises the amount of the skeletal calcium, and they work synergistically.
In this sense, calcium glycerophosphate is a high quality of water-soluble calcium source with enhanced bioavailability. Calcium glycerophosphate contains equal amounts of calcium and phosphorous. Everybody knows this benefit; we won’t go further here.
calcium glycerophosphate for healthy teeth
calcium glycerophosphate is able to inhibit plaque formation and tooth decay (aka caries) in your mouth. Therefore, calcium glycerophosphate is often used in toothpaste formula to improve oral health.
A recent Brazilian study found that supplementation with this mineral significantly increased the phosphorus content of dental biofilm, which in turn enhanced its pH. The final results showed reduced demineralization, as well as a reduction in cavities among the study subjects.
You may read these documents and studies in details:
- Calcium glycerophosphate and caries: a review of the literature
- Calcium glycerophosphate supplemented to soft drinks reduces bovine enamel erosion
Supplements containing calcium glycerophosphate
Prelief supplement facts:
As a supplement, Prelief is AkPharma’s brand name for calcium glycerophosphate. It is available on Amazon, Walmart, and other online supplement stores across the globe.
Calcium glycerophosphate is the primary active ingredient in Prelief® (magnesium stearate also included in the supplement facts panel). Studies have found that calcium glycerophosphate can significantly reduce the urge to urinate, as well as minimize the discomfort experienced after consuming highly acidic foods and beverages. Calcium glycerophosphate is proved to reduce the acid content of jarred tomato sauce by 60% and coffee by 95%.
Prelief is one of the recommended complementary and alternative medical therapies for interstitial cystitis in the United States.
Prelief®, or calcium glycerophosphate, is the main supplement rated helpful in one study performed by Bologna [2001] in which patients kept a 4-week food diary and recorded food-related flares, an IC symptom index, and an SF-12 quality of life (QOL) survey. （detailed experiment results can be found in the document titled The Efficacy of Calcium Glycerophosphate in the Prevention of Food-Related Flares in Interstitial Cystitis）
Desert Harvest Calcium Glycerophosphate
Calcium Glycerophosphate is the main ingredient in Desert Harvest supplement in 120 Capsules (230 mg per capsule).
Other ingredients include organic aloe vera powder, and silicon dioxide are also shown in the supplement facts panel.
- Acid reducing.
- Removes up to 95% of Acid in Food & Drinks.
- Reduces Food Related Bladder & Digestive discomfort;
- Interstitial Cystitis
In addition, a branded calcium glycerophosphate ingredient GIVOCAL™ from Isaltis is used by many supplement brands, mainly as a calcium source.
Side effects of calcium glycerophosphate
As mentioned before, Calcium Glycerophosphate has been approved by many Pharmacopoeias of many countries and gets its GRAS status from the FDA as supplements. Therefore, if taken according to the dosage, there will be little adverse effects.
Calcium glycerophosphate dosage
There is no official dosage recommendation for your reference.
But you may refer to the supplement serving sizes on the markets.
Some supplements use 230mg Calcium glycerophosphate per day (1 capsule), and some lists as 130 mg calcium 100mg glycerophosphate daily (2 caplets). In fact, these dosings are the same, 230mg per day. It will be safe with this available dosing.
For best results, please take Calcium glycerophosphate before your meals.
Where to buy calcium glycerophosphate powder?
There are not so many bulk calcium glycerophosphate powder source at present.
Cima Science Co., Ltd has a production line of producing various glycerophosphate salts, such as calcium glycerophosphate, magnesium glycerophosphate powder, sodium glycerophosphate powder, potassium glycerophosphate powder, etc. These commercial quantity of glycerophosphate salts are extremely popular among our clients who buy our alpha GPC ingredients for their supplement formulas.
Calcium glycerophosphate References:
- calcium glycerophosphate in European pharmacopeia
- calcium glycerophosphate in USP pharmacopeia
- history of calcium glycerophosphate
- Overview of Calcium Phosphates used in Biomimetic Oral Care
- The efficacy of calcium glycerophosphate in the prevention of food-related flares in interstitial cystitis
