What are the Differences Between Calcium Gluconate vs Calcium Carbonate?

Calcium gluconate and calcium carbonate are two drugs that are commonly used to treat osteoporosis symptoms, and both of them can play a role in supplementing calcium. There are many similarities between the two drugs, which often confuse users. So, we will introduce the main differences between calcium gluconate vs calcium carbonate as follows.

1. Different chemical structures between calcium gluconate vs calcium carbonate 

Calcium gluconate, the chemical formula CaC₆H₁₁O₇, is a calcium salt soluble in water. Calcium carbonate, the chemical formula CaCO₃, is a compound containing calcium ions and carbonate ions. This product is insoluble in water.

2. Different calcium content of calcium carbonate and calcium gluconate

The main difference between them is that they have different calcium content, which is an important index when people choose calcium supplements. The rate of elemental calcium can reach 40 percent in calcium carbonate, while the content of calcium is 9 percent in calcium gluconate. It is a better choice to take calcium carbonate, mainly because calcium carbonate has a higher content of calcium elements, thereby appropriate supplementation can meet the body's requirement for calcium.

3. Different calcium absorption rates between calcium gluconate vs calcium carbonate 

In terms of calcium absorption rate, calcium in calcium gluconate is more easily dissolved, especially for patients with stomach acid deficiency or no stomach acid. It is more suitable to eat calcium gluconate because the PH value in the stomach is higher, and the absorption rate of calcium is relatively low if the patients eat calcium carbonate. So the absorption rate of calcium gluconate is higher than that of calcium carbonate. This result is related to the good solubility of calcium gluconate in the human body.

4. Calcium gluconate and calcium carbonate serve different purposes

Calcium gluconate is mainly used as a food calcium fortifier and nutrient, buffer, curing agent, and chelating agent to treat calcium deficiency, acute hypocalcemia and hypoglycemic convulsions, urticaria, dermatitis, and so on. As a calcium supplement, the absorption rate of calcium carbonate can reach 39%, which has become the most used calcium supplement with various dosage forms. Calcium carbonate is used for the prevention and treatment of calcium deficiencies, such as osteoporosis, hand and foot tics, osteogenesis, rickets, and calcium supplementation for children and the elderly.

5. The absorption site of them is different and they are fit for different people

Calcium carbonate needs to be taken orally into the gastrointestinal tract during use and reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to produce calcium chloride before it can be absorbed by the body. Because the solubility of calcium carbonate in water is extremely low, calcium carbonate needs to be transformed in the body before it can be absorbed by the body. Calcium gluconate can be directly absorbed in the body without reacting with stomach acid in advance and it has a good solubility in water.

However, some elderly people and patients with stomach acid deficiency and other diseases should try to take calcium gluconate as much as possible because their gastrointestinal function is weak. Calcium gluconate is often produced into oral liquid because it is easily soluble in water, and it is added to some products to improve the flavor, which is favorably accepted by children and some adolescent women.

However, there is no obvious difference for people with better gastrointestinal function, that is to say, both of them are suitable. For some middle-aged and elderly people or some children and pregnant women, calcium gluconate is more fit.

6. Different adverse reactions between calcium gluconate vs calcium carbonate 

It can cause adverse reactions such as constipation, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting when taking a large amount of calcium gluconate. Calcium carbonate also can cause hypercalcemia, kidney damage, and other adverse reactions when excessive dosage is taken.

Conclusion

This brings us to conclude the main views on the topic of "What are the differences between calcium gluconate vs calcium carbonate". Both of them are often used as calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis. The differences between them include different calcium content, calcium absorptivity, and different adverse reactions. And they apply to different groups of people. For example, it is more suitable to choose calcium gluconate for elderly people and patients with stomach acid deficiency and other diseases.