E579 (Ferrous gluconate) is a chemical compound, iron salt of gluconic acid.

It appears in the form of a yellowish powder.

What it is used for and where

Food

Iron is an essential element in the human body and acts as the basis for many biological functions. Iron compounds are used as iron supplements to treat anaemia, to reduce the risk of iron deficiency. Ferrous gluconate is used, together with zinc oxide and ascorbic acid, to improve the nutritional value of milk (1).

Ingredient listed in the European food additives list as E579 as a stabiliser.

This study finds that glycine-stabilised ferrous gluconate in a fresh cheese matrix is a good source of iron and can be used in iron fortification programmes (2).

Medical

Iron deficiency anaemia is a common clinical condition often treated with tablets containing 65 mg elemental iron. Such doses can cause gastrointestinal side effects that lower the patient's compliance. Oral iron supplements also increase hepcidin production causing reduced fractional absorption of subsequent doses. Frequent blood donors often become iron deficient. Results of a two-year study suggest that much lower doses of iron than those currently used will be effective for the clinical treatment of iron deficiency anaemia (3).

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

• Molecular Formula: C₁₂H₂₂FeO₁₄·2H₂O  o  C₁₂H₂₂FeO₁₄
• Molecular Weight: 446.139
• CAS: 299-29-6
• EC number:       206-076-3 

References_________________________________________________________________________

(1) Villalpando S, Shamah T, Rivera JA, Lara Y, Monterrubio  Fortifying milk with ferrous gluconate and zinc oxide in a public nutrition program reduced the prevalence of anemia in toddlers. E (2006)J Nutr 136: 2633–2637

(2) Pizarro F, Boccio J, Salgueiro M, Olivares M, Carmuega E, Weill R, Marque S, Frereux M, Noirt F. Bioavailability of stabilised ferrous gluconate with glycine in fresh cheese matrix: a novel iron compound for food fortification.  Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 Mar;151(3):441-5. doi: 10.1007/s12011-012-9574-7. Epub 2012 Dec 29.

(3) Bialkowski W, Kiss JE, Wright DJ, Cable R, Birch R, D'Andrea P, Bryant BJ, Spencer BR, Mast AE. Estimates of total body iron indicate 19 mg and 38 mg oral iron are equivalent for the mitigation of iron deficiency in individuals experiencing repeated phlebotomy. Am J Hematol. 2017 Sep;92(9):851-857. doi: 10.1002/ajh.24784. Epub 2017 Jun 9.