Calcium propanoate: Difference between revisions

{{POV-check|date=December 2007}}

| verifiedrevid = 396931528

|Reference=<ref>''Merck Index'', 11th Edition, '''1705'''.</ref>

|ImageFile=Calcium propanoate.png

|ImageSize=200px

|IUPACName=Calcium propanoate

|OtherNames=Calcium propionate<br>Mycoban

|Section1= {{Chembox Identifiers

| CASNo=4075-81-4

| PubChem=19999

| EINECS =223-795-8

| SMILES=CCC(=O)[O-].CCC(=O)[O-].[Ca+2]

|Section2= {{Chembox Properties

| Formula=C₆H₁₀CaO₄

| MolarMass=186.22

| Appearance=White crystalline solid

| Density=

| MeltingPt=

| BoilingPt=

| Solubility=Freely soluble

|Section3= {{Chembox Hazards

| MainHazards=

| FlashPt=

| Autoignition=

As a food additive, it is listed as [[E number]] 282 in the [[Codex Alimentarius]]. Calcium propanoate is used as a preservative in a wide variety of products, including but not limited to bread, other baked goods, processed meat, whey, and other dairy products.<ref name="alimentarius">[http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=306 Codex Alimentarius data for calcium propanoate]</ref> In agriculture, it is used, amongst other things, to prevent [[milk fever]] in cows and as a feed supplement <ref name="feed">[http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOP/NationalList/TAPReviews/CalciumPropionate.pdf Center for Food and Nutrition Policy review of use of calcium propanoate as an organic agent in cow feed and as milk fever prevention]</ref> Propanoates prevent microbes from producing the energy they need, like benzoates do. However, unlike benzoates, propanoates do not require an acidic environment.<ref name="ingredients">{{cite web | title=Ingredients -- Calcium propionate| url=http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/calcium_propionate.html| accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref>

Calcium propanoate is used in bakery products as a mold inhibitor, typically at 0.1-0.4% <ref>http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/pubs/pdf/Venture/venture3_chemical.html</ref> (though animal feed may contain up to 1%). Mold contamination is considered a serious problem amongst bakers, and conditions commonly found in baking present near-optimal conditions for mold growth.<ref name="baking industry">{{cite web | title=Keeping molds, bacteria at bay| url=http://bakingmanagement.bakery-net.com/article/7448| accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref>

A few decades ago, ''[[Bacillus mesentericus]]'' (rope), was a serious problem,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} but today's improved sanitary practices in the bakery, combined with rapid turnover of the finished product, have virtually eliminated this form of spoilage.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Calcium propanoate and [[sodium propanoate]] are effective against both ''[[Bacillus mesentericus]]'' rope and mold.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

A small study in children (n=27) found statistically significant "[i]rritability, restlessness, inattention and sleep disturbance in some children" on challenge with calcium propionate preserved food, but noted lack of significance of assessment scores due to placebo response from four subjects. <ref name="pubmed">Dengate S, Ruben A., 2002. J Paediatr Child Health 38(4):373-6.{{cite web | title=Controlled trial of cumulative behavioural effects of a common bread preservative.| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=DetailsSearch&term=12173999| accessdate=2010-02-20}}</ref>

Metabolism of [[Propanoate_metabolism#Metabolism|propanoate]] begins with its conversion to propionyl coenzyme A (propionyl-CoA), the usual first step in the metabolism of carboxylic acids. Since propanoic acid has three carbons, propionyl-CoA cannot directly enter either beta oxidation nor the citric acid cycles. In most vertebrates, propionyl-CoA is carboxylated to D-methylmalonyl-CoA, which is isomerised to L-methylmalonyl-CoA. A vitamin B12-dependent enzyme catalyzes rearrangement of L-methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA, which is an intermediate of the citric acid cycle and can be readily incorporated there.

Intraventricular infusion of propanoic acid into rat brains caused oxidative stress and produced reversible behavior (e.g. hyperactivity, dystonia, social impairment, perseveration) and brain changes (e.g. innate neuroinflammation, glutathione depletion) reminiscent of [[autism]].<ref name = macfabe>{{cite journal

| author = D. F. MacFabe, D. P. Cain, K. Rodriguez-Capote, A. E. Franklin, J. E. Hoffman, F. Boon, A. R. Taylor, M. Kavaliers and K.-P. Ossenkopp

| journal = Behavioral Brain Research

| url = }}</ref>

According to the Pesticide Action Network North America, calcium propionate is slightly toxic.<ref>[http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33679 Pesticide Action Network data on calcium propanoate]</ref> This rating is not uncommon for food products; [[vitamin C]] is also rated by the same standards as being slightly toxic. <ref>[http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35665 Pesticide Action Network data on Vitamin C]</ref> Calcium propanoate can be used as a pesticide.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Biggs | first1 = A. R. | last2 = El-Kholi | first2 = M. M. | last3 = El-Neshawy | first3 = S. | last4 = Nickerson | first4 = R. | title = Effects of Calcium Salts on Growth, Polygalacturonase Activity, and Infection of Peach Fruit by Monilinia fructicola | journal = Plant Disease | volume = 81 | pages = 399 | year = 1997 | doi = 10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.4.399}}</ref>

<references/>

*[http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Fact282.htm Food Intolerance Network activism page concerning calcium propionate]

*[http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm Center for Science in the Public Interest list of food additives]

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