According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, glycerophosphate is a chemical compound derived from one of the glycerophosphoric acids. It is commonly used in conjunction with certain minerals as a transporter in order to carry those minerals through the body.
Without glycerophosphate as a transporter many of the minerals required by the body would simply be flushed through the system without being used. For example, when combining glycerophosphate with calcium we come up with the compound calcium glycerophosphate.
Medical science is already aware of the health benefits of calcium supplementation for the teeth, bones, and skin. When calcium is added to glycerophosphate it may prove to be more beneficial in certain areas. One study conducted by British researchers and published by the National Institutes of Health does seem to suggest that calcium glycerophosphate is more effective in preventing plaque buildup in the teeth rather than simply calcium alone.
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Glycerophosphate as a Transporter There are quite a number of minerals that can take advantage of glycerophosphate as a transporter. A simple Internet search of the term reveals that glycerophosphate has been combined with sodium, potassium, and quite a few others. Gylcerophosphate is ... more
There are quite a number of minerals that can take advantage of glycerophosphate as a transporter. A simple Internet search of the term reveals that glycerophosphate has been combined with sodium, potassium, and quite a few others.
Gylcerophosphate is not necessarily an effective transporter for all minerals, but for those it helps, it does so in a big way. It’s not clear exactly why this is so, but it has been widely accepted. Compounds using glycerophosphate are now showing up in products like toothpaste, health food supplements, and some medicines.
Two minerals with which the use of glycerophosphate is suspect are sodium and potassium. Although sodium glycerophosphate is found as an ingredient in some dietary supplements, it is not widely used because of the complications of excess sodium in the diet.
Sodium is one of those minerals that requires a delicate balance in the human body. Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and other issues while too little sodium interrupts the proper functioning of the muscles and nervous system.
Using sodium glycerophosphate as an ingredient in supplements is viewed as risky in the medical community.
Where magnesium is concerned, it is another mineral which has its applications but which can be a problem if it is not properly regulated. Magnesium is essential to the proper functioning of the body's enzymatic system.
Fortunately, most of us get a proper amount of magnesium just from our daily diets. Because excess magnesium is easily filtered out it's difficult to get too much just from your daily diet.
That being said, when magnesium is attached to glycerophosphate as a supplement it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Studies of magnesium glycerophosphate's efficacy as a mineral compound have proven to be inconclusive to date.
As a mineral transporter, glycerophosphate makes a good partner with those minerals that work well with it. Sodium is a good example of this phenomenon. When sodium is attached to glycerophosphate it is capable of boosting energy levels extremely quickly.
When added to an energy boosting supplement, sodium glycerophosphate has noticeable effects within minutes of consumption. On the downside, if sodium glycerophosphate is consumed just prior to beginning exercise and the body is not breaking down carbohydrates quickly enough, the user can crash when consumption of sodium glycerophosphate ceases.
The same type of quick reaction can be observed when the transporter is connected to calcium, which is probably why it is added to toothpaste and antacids. By using the transporter with calcium, the calcium gets to where it needs to go much quicker and gets right to work.
As an ingredient in toothpaste, calcium glycerophosphate helps prevent plaque buildup because it is immediately active upon contact with the teeth. In an antacid, the calcium glycerophosphate is almost immediately accepted by the stomach where it can begin absorbing acid.
Although much is known about using glycerophosphate has a mineral transporter there is still much about the substance that is unknown. For example, how it reacts with some minerals that have not yet been tested. Research is still ongoing for both medical and other applications.
Most notably are medical applications which might be useful in combating disorders related to certain mineral deficiencies. Some researchers suggest that using glycerophosphate as a transporter for other chemical compounds could even help in the fight against some types of cancers.
In terms of nutritional supplements, most often glycerophosphate will be included in a mineral compound used in bodybuilding supplements. It also can be found in general nutrition supplements aimed at the elderly or those suffering from certain types of chronic illnesses.
Glycerophosphate is classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by the FDA. To locate products which contain Glycerophosphate, use the supplement finder now!
| None Known When Taken Properly |
| None Known When Taken Properly |
| Calcium Glycerophosphate, Iron Glycerophosphate, Magnesium Glycerophosphate, Potassium Glycerophosphate |
| Prevents Plaque Build Up In Teeth |
| Transports Minerals |
| Prevents Plaque Build Up In Teeth |
| Transports Minerals |