Definition:

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Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate Health Benefits:

Calcium, an alkaline element, is an essential component of bones and teeth, playing a vital role in normal bone growth and development and maintaining bone health. Calcium deficiency primarily manifests as skeletal pathology. During childhood, it can lead to growth retardation, abnormal new bone structure, poor calcification, and skeletal deformation. Rickets are common in infants under two years old, particularly premature infants and twins. Osteoporosis, characterized by decreased bone mass (BMC) and bone density (BMD), is common in middle-aged and elderly individuals, increasing bone fragility and the risk of fractures. The China Residents' Nutrition and Chronic Disease Status Report highlights the prominent problem of unhealthy diets, with insufficient consumption of fruits, beans and soy products, and dairy products. This indicates that dietary calcium intake falls far short of recommended intakes. This is especially true for children and adolescents who are still growing. Calcium supplements can be used to supplement calcium.

Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate is an organic combination of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and calcium. It combines the nutritional functions of vitamin C with the physiological effects of calcium. Compared with pure ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it has better stability and a milder taste. It is an important nutritional enhancer and functional additive in the food industry.

Particularities of Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● EP, USP, GB 1886.43, Food grade, In-house

▶Benefits of Vitamin C

Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate Applications:

Vitamin C can scavenge free radicals, slow aging, enhance skin elasticity (by promoting collagen synthesis), and possess antioxidant properties. Vitamin C can also boost the activity of immune cells (such as lymphocytes), reducing the risk of infections like colds. It can also improve the absorption of plant-based iron (such as that found in spinach), preventing iron-deficiency anemia.

■ Core ingredients

Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate is formed by the neutralization reaction of one molecule of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and one molecule of calcium (in the form of calcium ions). Compared to pure ascorbic acid (which is highly acidic and easily oxidized), calcium ascorbate has a pH closer to neutral (a 1% aqueous solution has a pH of approximately 6.0-7.5). Its molecular structure is also more stable, making it less susceptible to decomposition due to heat, light, and oxygen.

Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate ≥98.0%

Among nutritional supplements and targeted supplements, Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate is a key active ingredient due to its minimal gastrointestinal irritation and synergistic absorption of vitamin C and calcium, making it suitable for those who need to supplement both nutrients. Tablets and capsules are the most common dosage forms, suitable for daily supplementation for adults.

Effervescent tablets, when dissolved in water, create a "vitamin C calcium drink" with a refreshing taste (such as lemon), suitable for those who dislike swallowing pills (children and the elderly). However, effervescent tablets should be avoided as they contain high sodium. Solid beverages and meal replacement powders are often formulated with whey protein and dietary fiber, making them suitable for fitness enthusiasts and vegetarians. Infant supplements, primarily in the form of drops and powders, are low-concentration, easily soluble, and can be added to breast milk, formula, or complementary foods to meet infants' daily vitamin C and calcium needs.

In the food industry, Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate is both a nutritional enhancer (supplementing VC and calcium at the same time) and a functional additive (protecting color, anti-oxidation, and improving taste), suitable for a wide range of food categories. Beverages place extremely high demands on vitamin C stability and taste. Pure vitamin C is susceptible to oxidation and discoloration, and is highly acidic (requiring large amounts of sweeteners to neutralize it). Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate perfectly addresses both of these issues. The baking process, which involves high temperatures of 160-220°C, easily decomposes pure vitamin C (retention rate<30%). However, the calcium salt structure of calcium ascorbate protects vitamin C while also providing antioxidant benefits. Dairy products are a core application for calcium fortification, and calcium ascorbate can supplement vitamin C (promoting calcium absorption) without compromising the frankincense flavor of milk/yogurt. Infants and young children have delicate stomachs and are sensitive to taste. The mildness and dual nutritional value of calcium ascorbate make it a preferred fortifier in infant and toddler foods. Snack foods (such as nuts and candies) often face the problem of oxidative discoloration. Calcium ascorbate can simultaneously protect color and enhance nutrition. Pre-prepared meals and quick-frozen foods tend to become dull in color and lose moisture during processing and freezing. Calcium ascorbate can protect color and retain moisture.

■ Production technology characteristics

The production of food-grade Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate strictly adheres to food safety regulations, with neutralization and purification as the key to ensuring purity and safety. High-purity L-ascorbic acid (food grade, purity ≥99.5%) and a food-grade calcium source (such as calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, or calcium lactate) are used as raw materials to avoid the introduction of heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium) or impurities. The ascorbic acid is dissolved in purified water. The calcium source is slowly added at room temperature or low temperature (30-50°C to avoid heat damage to the ascorbic acid). The solution is stirred to initiate a neutralization reaction (where the carboxyl groups of the ascorbic acid bind to the calcium ions), producing a calcium ascorbate solution. After the reaction is complete, any unreacted traces of calcium source impurities are removed by filtration. Ethanol (as a crystallizing agent) is then added to the filtrate, and the solution is cooled to 5-10°C to promote crystallization, forming calcium ascorbate crystals.

The crystals are vacuum dried (at low temperature to prevent oxidation) to remove moisture and then crushed to the required fineness (usually 80-120 mesh) to obtain food-grade calcium ascorbate powder. The entire process must be kept away from light and oxygen to prevent oxidation and ineffectiveness of the product.

Calcium maintains bone density and prevents osteoporosis (especially in the elderly and postmenopausal women). It also supports nerve signal transmission and prevents muscle spasms (such as nighttime leg cramps). It also acts as a coagulation factor and participates in the hemostasis process, preventing excessive bleeding.

▶ Benefits of calcium

Vitamin C promotes intestinal calcium absorption (by regulating intestinal pH and enhancing calcium solubility) and stimulates collagen synthesis (collagen is a key component of the bone matrix, contributing to bone toughness). This allows for more efficient calcium deposition and utilization. Compared to calcium supplementation alone, combining vitamin C with calcium supplements can increase calcium absorption by 20%-30%.

▶ Synergistic advantages

■ Core features

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is susceptible to oxidative decomposition due to light, high temperatures, oxygen, and acidic environments. The calcium salt structure of calcium ascorbate protects the ascorbic acid molecule, increasing its stability by 3-5 times. Pure ascorbic acid is extremely acidic (pH=2.5 at 1% aqueous solution), and its direct addition can result in a sour and astringent taste in foods (e.g., high-vitamin C beverages require large amounts of sweetener to neutralize it). Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate, on the other hand, is slightly neutral, resulting in a mild, non-astringent taste, which reduces the amount of sweetener used and is suitable for foods with sensitive tastes, such as infant and senior foods. Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate provides both vitamin C and calcium, eliminating the need for separate additives, simplifying food formulations and reducing production costs. Calcium ascorbate is readily soluble in water, and the resulting solution is clear and transparent, which does not affect the appearance of foods. It also avoids the problem of some calcium salts (such as calcium carbonate) that easily precipitate in acidic foods.

Physical and Chemical Properties:

Chemistry name: Calcium diascorbate; L-Ascorbic acid, calcium salt

CAS No.: 5743-28-2

EINECS No.: 611-529-7

Chemical formula: C12H14CaO12·2H2O

Molecular mass: 426.34 g/mol

The health benefits of food-grade Mineraux®Calcium ascorbate stem from the vitamin C and calcium it provides, which have a synergistic absorption effect.