Home Ingredients Calcium D-Glucarate
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Calcium D-Glucarate

Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
5 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Calcium D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid — a compound found naturally in fruits and vegetables (apples, oranges, grapefruit, cruciferous vegetables). Distinguished by its inhibition of beta-glucuronidase — an enzyme that 'unconjugates' previously-detoxified hormones and toxins in the gut, allowing them to be reabsorbed. It is used in women's health protocols, often alongside DIM, on the rationale that inhibiting this enzyme increases elimination of glucuronidated estrogens. That rationale is a mechanism rather than a demonstrated outcome. The single study cited on this page was published in 1990, was carried out in rats, and measured enzyme activity only. No cited study measured a hormone level in any species.

Studied Dose 1,000-3,000 mg/day is the range used in practice; no human dosing study is cited, so this reflects practice convention rather than a studied dose.
Active Compound D-glucaric acid (delivered as calcium salt)

Benefits

Beta-Glucuronidase Inhibition / Estrogen Clearance

Beta-glucuronidase enzyme (produced by gut bacteria) cleaves glucuronide conjugates — 'unconjugating' previously detoxified hormones, toxins, and drugs. In the one study cited here (Dwivedi 1990), a single dose of calcium glucarate lowered beta-glucuronidase activity in rats by 57% in serum, 44% in liver, 37% in lung and 39% in intestine. That study measured enzyme activity only, and it is the entire cited evidence base. The step from enzyme inhibition to greater estrogen elimination in a person has not been measured in anything cited here.

Supported by Trial 1

Estrogen Clearance Rationale (Mechanism Only)

Estrogens are conjugated with glucuronic acid in liver Phase II detoxification, then excreted via bile into intestine. Beta-glucuronidase can 'unconjugate' estrogens, allowing reabsorption (enterohepatic recirculation). Calcium D-glucarate inhibited that enzyme in rats. Everything past that step, including how much estrogen a person actually clears, is inference. No cited study measured estrogen or any other hormone, in people or in animals. Read this as the proposed rationale for the ingredient, not a proven effect.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Toxin / Xenobiotic Clearance

The same proposed mechanism is extended to environmental compounds, drugs and metabolic byproducts that undergo glucuronidation. No cited study measured the clearance of any such substance in people or in animals. This is an extension of the rat enzyme finding rather than a measured outcome.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Preclinical Animal Background

This is preclinical background rather than a demonstrated benefit. The one study cited here was run in rats in 1990 and measured beta-glucuronidase activity in serum and in liver, lung and intestinal microsomes. It measured no clinical outcome of any kind. Human clinical translation limited.

Supported by Trial 1

Cholesterol: Animal Data Only, Not Cited Here

Any cholesterol effect attributed to calcium D-glucarate comes from animal work that is not among the references on this page. The single cited study did not measure cholesterol or any other blood lipid. Limited human clinical evidence.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Beta-Glucuronidase Enzyme Inhibition

D-glucaric acid (and metabolite D-glucaro-1,4-lactone) inhibits beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme produced both by gut bacteria and by mammalian tissue. The cited measurements were made in rat serum, in rat liver, lung and intestinal microsomes, and in bacterial flora from rat intestinal segments. The proposed consequence is that glucuronide conjugates stay intact for excretion rather than being reabsorbed.

2

Phase II Detoxification Support

Glucuronidation is major Phase II detoxification pathway in liver — the proposed role of calcium D-glucarate is to prevent 'reversal' of glucuronidation in the gut. Any synergy with other compounds that support glucuronidation is untested in the evidence cited here.

3

Estrogen Enterohepatic Recirculation Reduction

The proposed pathway is reduced reabsorption of estrogens that were conjugated for excretion. Whether that lowers circulating estrogen in a person has not been measured in any study cited on this page. The cited rat study measured enzyme activity, not hormones.

4

Calcium Co-Delivery

Calcium D-glucarate provides modest calcium content as bonus — typical doses provide 300-600 mg elemental calcium daily (consider in total calcium intake).

Clinical trials

1
Calcium Glucarate and Beta-Glucuronidase Activity in Rats (1990)

Dwivedi 1990 (PMID 2346674), the only study cited on this page. A single dose of calcium glucarate was given to rats and beta-glucuronidase activity was measured in serum and in liver, lung and intestinal microsomes, along with bacterial flora from intestinal segments.

Rats. No human subjects.

Beta-glucuronidase activity fell by 57% in serum, 44% in liver, 37% in lung and 39% in intestine. No hormone was measured and no human outcome was measured. The paper was published in 1990 and is the only citation on this page.

2
Human Pharmacokinetics: No Study Cited

Uncited. This card refers to a Phase 1 human dosing and pharmacokinetic study, and no such study appears among the references on this page.

Not established. No human study is cited here.

Not supported by anything cited here. Absorption, conversion to D-glucaro-1,4-lactone, and any effect on beta-glucuronidase activity in people are undocumented on this page. This card should not be read as human evidence.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated in practice, though no human safety trial is cited on this page.
GI distress (constipation, gas).
Headache rare.
Calcium content — typical 1,500 mg daily dose provides ~300-600 mg elemental calcium; consider in total calcium intake; relevant for those at risk of hypercalcemia or kidney stones.
Theoretical reduced absorption of medications that depend on enterohepatic recirculation.

Important Drug interactions

Oral contraceptives — beta-glucuronidase inhibition may modestly reduce enterohepatic recirculation of estrogens; theoretical reduction in contraceptive efficacy (less concerning than DIM/I3C); consult.
Drugs subject to enterohepatic recirculation — theoretical effects on drug levels.
Calcium content — separate from iron, zinc, magnesium supplements; affects absorption.
Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones — calcium reduces absorption; separate by 2 hours.
Levothyroxine — calcium reduces absorption; separate by 4 hours.
Mycophenolate (transplant medication) — undergoes enterohepatic recirculation; theoretical interaction; consult.

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Frequently asked questions about Calcium D-Glucarate

What is calcium D-glucarate used for?

Calcium D-glucarate is taken for its glucaric acid content, which is used on the rationale that it supports the body's detoxification and hormone (especially estrogen) metabolism, not as a calcium source. The calcium is simply the carrier. That rationale is a mechanism: the only study cited on this page was run in rats in 1990 and measured an enzyme, not a hormone.

How does calcium D-glucarate work?

In the body it releases a compound that inhibits an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, supporting glucuronidation, a key detox pathway that helps clear used hormones and toxins through the liver and gut. That is the basis for its use in estrogen-metabolism support. The enzyme inhibition was shown in rats, in a single 1990 study, and no cited study has measured hormone levels in any species.

How much calcium D-glucarate should I take?

Common doses are 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day, often split, with 1,500 mg per day typical. No human dosing study is cited here, so follow product labeling. Note that 1,500 mg per day also delivers roughly 300 to 600 mg of elemental calcium, which counts toward your daily calcium total. It is taken for hormone-metabolism and detox support rather than for its calcium.

Is calcium D-glucarate safe?

Reported tolerability is good, with occasional digestive complaints, though no human safety trial is cited on this page. Because it may speed the clearance of compounds processed through glucuronidation, it could theoretically affect levels of certain medications (including hormonal ones), so check with your doctor if you take prescriptions.

What is Calcium D-Glucarate?

Calcium D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid — a compound found naturally in fruits and vegetables (apples, oranges, grapefruit, cruciferous vegetables).

What is the recommended dosage of Calcium D-Glucarate?

The clinically studied dose is 1,000-3,000 mg/day is the range used in practice; no human dosing study is cited, so this reflects practice convention rather than a studied dose. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Calcium D-Glucarate safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Calcium D-Glucarate is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated in practice, though no human safety trial is cited on this page. GI distress (constipation, gas). It may also interact with some medications. Calcium D-Glucarate is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Calcium D-Glucarate interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Oral contraceptives — beta-glucuronidase inhibition may modestly reduce enterohepatic recirculation of estrogens; theoretical reduction in contraceptive efficacy (less concerning than DIM/I3C); consult. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Calcium D-Glucarate?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Calcium D-Glucarate as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Dwivedi C, Heck WJ, Downie AA, et al. Effect of calcium glucarate on beta-glucuronidase activity and glucarate content of certain vegetables and fruits. Biochem Med Metab Biol. 1990;43(2):83-92..PubMedUsed to support: Rat study, 1990. A single dose of calcium glucarate reduced beta-glucuronidase activity by 57% in serum, 44% in liver, 37% in lung and 39% in intestine. No human subjects and no hormone outcome.