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Calcium-D-Glucarate

Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of glucaric acid, a compound found in fruits and vegetables that may block beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme involved in how the body clears hormones and other substances. People mostly look at it for cancer prevention, but the evidence is very limited: in rodents, it lowered tumor rates across several cancer types. No human trials have tested this, and the rodent doses were far higher than any supplement, so the findings say little about people yet.

Sources: PMID 10050864; PMID 2208084

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
2
Outcomes
5
Graded outcomes
0005

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 conditions, plus general outcomes

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer: outcomes studied for Calcium-D-Glucarate
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Cancer Prevention (Preclinical)

In rodent models, dietary calcium D-glucarate (typically 4% of diet, equivalent to very high human doses) reduced tumor incidence across multiple cancer types including mammary, lung, skin, liver, and colon tumors induced by chemical carcinogens such as DMBA, benzo[a]pyrene, and diethylnitrosamine. No human clinical trials have been conducted.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect8 studies

Studies that measured cancer prevention (preclinical)

General

General: outcomes studied for Calcium-D-Glucarate
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Beta-Glucuronidase Inhibition

In rats, a single dose of calcium glucarate inhibited beta-glucuronidase activity in serum (57%), liver (44%), lung (37%), and intestinal microsomes (39%). A 4% dietary supplementation inhibited bacterial beta-glucuronidase by 70% in the small intestine and 54% in the colon. No human trials have confirmed these effects at supplement doses.

Changes; see studiesModerate effect4 studies

Studies that measured beta-glucuronidase inhibition

Anti-inflammatory Effects (Preclinical)

In A/J mice exposed to benzo[a]pyrene, a 4% calcium D-glucarate diet reduced IL-6 levels by approximately 70% and TNF-alpha levels while increasing anti-inflammatory IL-10 at 4 weeks post-exposure. Cell proliferation (BrdU staining) was reduced by 67.2% in lung tissue. Limited to a single animal study.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect4 studies

Studies that measured anti-inflammatory effects (preclinical)

Hormone Metabolism Modulation

In mice, dietary calcium D-glucarate reduced 17-ketosteroid excretion, consistent with altered steroid hormone metabolism via beta-glucuronidase inhibition reducing enterohepatic recirculation. Theoretical mechanism suggests decreased levels of estrogen, testosterone, and other glucuronidated hormones. No human trials have confirmed hormone-modulating effects.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured hormone metabolism modulation

Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Calcium-D-Glucarate
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Cholesterol Reduction (Preclinical)

In female Sprague-Dawley rats, dietary calcium D-glucarate reduced total serum cholesterol by up to 14% and LDL-cholesterol by up to 35% with no effect on HDL. Preliminary uncontrolled human observations have been referenced in reviews but no peer-reviewed human clinical trials have been published.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured cholesterol reduction (preclinical)

Key findings

  • Cancer Prevention (Preclinical)Breast CancerImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Beta-Glucuronidase InhibitionChanges; see studies
  • Anti-inflammatory Effects (Preclinical)Improves (the measure goes down)

Shop Calcium-D-Glucarate

Third-party tested Calcium-D-Glucarate products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

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Studies cited

12 studies from PubMed

  1. Dietary D-glucarate effects on the biomarkers of inflammation during early post-initiation stages of benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J miceOncology Letters, 2011 · PMID 22870144
  2. Calcium glucarate prevents tumor formation in mouse skinBiomedical and Environmental Sciences, 2003 · PMID 12747003
  3. Calcium-D-glucarateAlternative Medicine Review, 2002 · PMID 12197785
  4. D-glucaric acid content of various fruits and vegetables and cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary D-glucarate in the ratNutr Res, 1997 · PMID 7720117
  5. Metabolism, uptake, and excretion of a D-glucaric acid salt and its potential use in cancer preventionCancer Detection and Prevention, 1997 · PMID 9101079
  6. Dietary glucarate-mediated inhibition of initiation of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesisToxicology, 1992 · PMID 1519243
  7. Effects of dietary glucarate on the rat mammary tumor modelCarcinogenesis, 1990 · PMID 2124017
  8. Potential use of D-glucaric acid derivatives in cancer preventionAltern Med Rev, 1990 · PMID 10050864
  9. Potential use of D-glucaric acid derivatives in cancer preventionCancer Letters, 1990 · PMID 2208084
  10. Effect of calcium glucarate on beta-glucuronidase activity and glucarate content of certain vegetables and fruitsBiochemical Medicine and Metabolic Biology, 1990 · PMID 2346674
  11. Dietary glucarate as anti-promoter of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumorigenesisCarcinogenesis, 1986 · PMID 9168187
  12. Dietary glucarate-mediated reduction of sensitivity of murine strains to chemical carcinogenesisCancer Letters, 1986 · PMID 3768860