Gluconate information and review of benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Gluconic acid is made by the oxidation of the first carbon of glucose Gluconic acid has the chemical formula C6H12O7. When dissolved in water, gluconic acid forms the gluconate ion C6H11O7-.
   The salts of gluconic acid are also known as gluconates.

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Where do you find gluconate or gluconic acid
Gluconic acid is found naturally in fruit, honey, kombucha tea and wine and is used as a food additive, an acidity regulator.

Supplements with gluconate and their cost
Many supplements now have a gluconate joined to the molecule, the following are some examples.
Calcium Gluconate Monohydrate USP $2/kg
Copper Gluconate Anhydrous USP $7/kg
Creatine Gluconate $7/kg
Magnesium Gluconate Dihydrate USP $4/kg
Manganese Gluconate Dihydrate USP $4.5/kg
Potassium Gluconate Anhydrous USP $3/kg
Zinc Gluconate Dihydrate USP $4.5/kg
   As you can see above, creatine now comes in gluconate form, even though it is most often known as creatine monohydrate. Is there an advantage to ingesting creatine gluconate versus monhydrate? What about calcium gluconate versus calcium citrate? Until human studies are done, it would be difficult to know which form of a mineral or amino acid is better, with or without gluconate. My initial thought is that, for practical purposes, there would not be much of a difference. This is just a guess.