E578 (Calcium gluconate) is a chemical compound, the organic calcium salt of gluconic acid and contains 9.3 per cent calcium. It is produced by fermentation from glucose.

It appears as an easily soluble white powder.

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient included in the list of European food additives as E578 with the function of hardening agent, buffering agent, chelating agent.

Cosmetics

Chelating agent. It has the function of preventing unstable reactions and improving the bioavailability of chemical components within a product, and removes calcium and magnesium cations that can cause cloudiness in clear liquids.

Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous.  This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.

Medical

In calcium deficiency, calcium gluconate is a better choice than calcium chloride for intravenous filling (1) and is the most effective therapy for hydrofluoric acid-related burns (2).

Safety

Calcium gluconate has demonstrated efficacy as a single agent or in combination with other agents against hypocalcaemic tetany and cardiac resuscitation, however it is irritating to soft tissue when extravasated into neonatal units and may produce tissue necrosis (3). It is not irritating when administered subcutaneously and intramuscularly (4).

Other uses

• pharmaceutical industry, animal feed, poultry and aquaculture.

• Molecular Formula  C₁₂H₂₂CaO₁₄.H₂O  
• Molecular Weight     430.37
• CAS  299-28-5 
• UNII    SQE6VB453K
• EC Number  206-075-8 

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Anger, K.E., Belisle, C., Colwell, M.B., Dannemiller, R., Alawadhi, B., Wilkocki, A. and Szumita, P.M., 2014. Safety of compounded calcium chloride admixtures for peripheral intravenous administration in the setting of a calcium gluconate shortage. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 27(5), pp.474-477.

(2) Thomas, D., Jaeger, U., Sagoschen, I., Lamberti, C. and Wilhelm, K., 2009. Intra-arterial calcium gluconate treatment after hydrofluoric acid burn of the hand. Cardiovascular and interventional radiology, 32, pp.155-158.

(3) Lee, F.A. and Gwinn, J.L., 1975. Roentgen patterns of extravasation of calcium gluconate in the tissues of the neonate. The Journal of Pediatrics, 86(4), pp.598-601.

(4) Szurek, S.A., 1929. Efficiency and advantages of calcium gluconate as a therapeutic agent. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 26(9), pp.773-776.