What is Calcium D-Glucarate? | Benefits of Calcium D-Glucarate | How Much Do I Need? | Side Effects | Foods High in Calcium D-Glucarate | Is It Right For You?

What is Calcium D-Glucarate?

Calcium D-glucarate is a calcium salt that is formed when glucaric acid and calcium are combined. (This occurs naturally when the two are consumed and enter the acidic environment of the stomach). In addition to being produced in small amounts naturally by mammals and the human body, glucaric is also found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Calcium D-glucarate is also available in supplements via capsule form.

Benefits of Calcium D-Glucarate

Calcium D-glucarate can be taken in supplement form to help with a variety of health issues. Benefits of taking Calcium D-glucarate include the following:

Helps fight certain cancers. Calcium D-glucarate is believed to be an anti-cancer agent because it helps decrease the production of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase in the body. High levels of beta-glucuronidase may increase the risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. It is also believed to decrease the risk of lung cancer by reducing inflammation in the lungs, which could limit the growth of tumors. Calcium D-glucarate might play a role decreasing skin cancer risks by stimulating apoptosis, which is the natural death of cells in the body. Another potential benefit is its ability to assist in removing toxins from the body that may be linked to breast cancer and skin cancer. Calcium D-glucarate may also have chemoprotective properties, meaning it protects chemo patients and others from the effects of anti-cancer drugs.

Might reduce elevated estrogen levels. Calcium D-glucarate may help the liver remove excess hormones such as estrogen from the body. Symptoms of excess estrogen include anxiety and panic attacks, bloating, irregular periods, hair loss, mood swings, headaches, trouble sleeping, memory problems and other issues. When taking calcium D-glucarate, the excess estrogen is removed from the body via urination.

Detoxes the body. A “detox” is the process of removing harmful substances such as bacteria, pathogens, and toxins from the body. The liver is the largest organ in the body and assists in the detoxifying process by neutralizing toxins and excreting them in bile, which is a fluid secreted by the liver. Calcium D-glucarate may help prevent toxins from escaping the liver, thus helping support its detox pathways. Calcium D-glucarate also helps to remove toxins from other pathways as well, which include the skin, urination, bowel movements, nose, ears, eyes, kidneys, colon, spleen, and the lymphatic system.

Helps Lower Cholesterol. Cholesterol can be produced by the body and available in various foods such as dairy, meat, and eggs. While cholesterol has many uses in the body, such as used to make bile, insulation for nerve cells and is converted to vitamin D, too much of the sterol can be hazardous to a person’s health. Elevated cholesterol levels could increase the risk of hardened or narrowed arteries, which have been linked to heart attacks and strokes. In addition to changing the diet to decrease cholesterol levels, calcium D-glucarate may help decrease its levels as well, with minimal side effects. Calcium D-glucarate may help lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. It could also bring total cholesterol to healthier levels.

Anti-inflammatory. Calcium D-glucarate has been shown to decrease levels of inflammatory cytokines in the body. (Cytokines are proteins that play a pivotal role in the immune system). An excessive amount of cytokines could increase the risk of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory issues. Symptoms of excess cytokines include fatigue, fatigue, achiness, inflammation, and fever. In addition to consuming calcium D-glucarate, other ways to potentially decrease inflammation are to eat healthy foods, get adequate rest, exercise regularly, and decrease intake of refined carbs, processed foods, sugary beverages and trans fats.

How Much Calcium D-Glucarate Do I Need?

Most calcium-D-glucarate supplements are taken orally and available in 200mg, 300mg or 500 mg capsules. Dosages often range between 1500mg and 3000 mg daily, but there no established intake guidelines. Dosages can also depend on a person’s age and health condition. Calcium-D-glucarate is not approved by the FDA but is often used to treat a variety of ailments. One dose of 4.5mmol/kg (1.1g/kg) calcium D-glucarate is believed to limit the effects of β-glucuronidase in the liver, intestines, lungs, and serum, which has been linked to inflammation. Dosages can also vary if taken for treating certain conditions. For example, some have consumed 9 grams per day over a 6-week period to treat lung cancer.

Side Effects of Calcium D-Glucarate

There are few known side effects from taking calcium-D-glucarate supplements. Consuming large dosages (27 grams) showed no adverse reactions in studies. The excess glucaric acid was eliminated from the body via urine. Calcium-D-glucarate supplements are believed to be safe for human consumption, but precautions should be taken for the following:

• Pregnant or lactating women. There is little research on the effects of calcium-D-glucarate on pregnant or lactating women. As a result, it is advised women refrain from taking the supplement without a doctor’s supervision or approval. There is no research available on the effects of calcium-D-glucarate supplements on unborn children.
• Interact with certain medications. Calcium-D-glucarate may decrease the effectiveness of medications designed to reduce cholesterol levels and some pain relievers like acetaminophen. Calcium-D-glucarate could also prompt the liver to excrete medications from the body before they can have an impact.
• Hormone levels. Calcium-D-glucarate might temporarily reduce steroid hormones levels in the body. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are steroid hormones.

Foods High in Calcium D-Glucarate

Calcium-D-glucarate can be found in many popular fruits and vegetables:

Oranges, apples, and broccoli contain the highest levels of calcium D-glucarate.

Is Calcium D-Glucarate Supplements Right for You?

Calcium-D-glucarate is produced naturally in the body but can also be found in many fruits and vegetables. It is also added to supplements in capsule form. In addition to being used as a detox to remove toxins and other harmful substances, calcium-D-glucarate has been taken to treat a variety of conditions. Some forms of cancer, high cholesterol, elevated estrogen levels and inflammation have all been used in an attempt to treat these and other health issues. While there are no known side effects of calcium D-glucarate, pregnant or lactating women should refrain from taking calcium D-glucarate. In addition, those taking medication should consult with a physician before taking calcium-D-glucarate.