Description
Calcium lactate is a black or white crystalline salt made by the action of lactic acid on calcium carbonate. It is used in foods (as an ingredient in baking powder) and given medicinally. Its E number is E327. It is created by the reaction of lactic acid with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide.
Calcium lactate is often found in aged cheeses. Small crystals of it precipitate out when lactic acid is converted into a less soluble form by the bacteria active during the ripening process.
In medicine, calcium lactate is most commonly used as an antacid and also to treat calcium deficiencies. Calcium lactate can be absorbed at various pHs and does not need to be taken with food for absorption for these reasons.
Calcium lactate is added to sugar-free foods to prevent tooth decay. When added to chewing gum containing xylitol, it increases the remineralization of tooth enamel.It is also added to fresh-cut fruits such as cantaloupes to keep them firm and extend their shelf life, without the bitter taste caused by calcium chloride, which can also be used for this purpose.
Chemical Properties
Calcium lactate occurs as white or almost white, crystalline or
granular powder. It is slightly efflorescent.
Chemical Properties
White or almost white, crystalline or granular powder.
Production Methods
Calcium lactate is prepared commercially by neutralization with
calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide of lactic acid obtained
from fermentation of dextrose, molasses, starch, sugar, or whey.
Brand name
Prequist Powder (Parke-Davis).
Pharmaceutical Applications
Calcium lactate is used as a bioavailability enhancer and nutrient
supplement in pharmaceutical formulations.
A spray-dried grade of calcium lactate pentahydrate has been
used as a tablet diluent in direct compression systems, and has
been shown to have good compactability. The properties of the
pentahydrate form have been considered superior to those of
calcium lactate trihydrate when used in direct compression tablet
formulations. Tablet properties may be affected by the hydration
state of the calcium lactate and particle size of the material: reducing
particle size increased crushing strength, whereas storage of tablets
at elevated temperature resulted in dehydration accompanied by a
reduction in crushing strength.
Calcium lactate has also been used as the source of calcium ions
in the preparation of calcium alginate microspheres for controlled-
release delivery of active agents. It has been shown to result in lower
calcium concentrations in the finished microspheres when compared
with calcium acetate.
Therapeutically, calcium lactate has been used in preparations
for the treatment of calcium deficiency.
Safety
Calcium lactate was found to have no toxic or carcinogenic effects
when dosed at levels of 0%, 2.5%, and 5% in drinking water to
male and female rats for 2 years.
storage
Calcium lactate can exist in a number of hydration states, which are
characterized as anhydrous, monohydrate, trihydrate, and pentahydrate.
Dehydration of the pentahydrate form is rapid at
temperatures of 558℃ and above. Dehydration is reported to be
accompanied by some loss of crystallinity. Tablet crushing
strength was reported to be reduced following dehydration of
calcium lactate pentahydrate.
Purification Methods
Crystallise it from warm water (10mL/g) by cooling to 0o. [Beilstein 3 IV 636.]
Incompatibilities
Calcium salts, including the lactate, can display physical incompatibility
with phosphate in the diet or therapeutic preparations, for
example in enteral feed mixtures.
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed except for infant foods/formulas. Accepted as a
food additive in Europe. Calcium lactate (anhydrous) is included in
the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (vaginal, tablet). It is used in
oral dosage forms. Included in vaginal pessary formulations
licensed in the UK.
