E263 (Calcium acetate) is a chemical compound that is relatively easy and cheap to produce, usually obtained by liquid ion exchange with calcium hydroxide.

It appears as a white powder with an unpleasant taste that is more soluble in cold than in hot water.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Calcium acetate is effective in controlling hyperphosphatemia, a disease that produces elevated levels of phosphate in the blood (1), has been shown to be a potent phosphate binder and has recently been used successfully in chronic dialysis patients (2), and is the most commonly prescribed calcium-containing phosphate binder in the United States.

However, the use of calcium salts to correct hyperphosphatemia has led to progressive coronary and aortic calcification while the use of the non-calcium containing sevelamer binder has not (3) although some studies have raised some doubts (4).

Cosmetics

Fragrance. It plays a decisive and important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

Food

Ingredient on the European food additives list as E263, preservative.

Other uses

• organic de-icing salt
• accelerator and water reducer for silica blended cement

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

    "Calcium acetate studies"

• Molecular Formula     C₄H₆O₄.Ca    (CH₃CO₂)₂Ca
• Molecular Weight      158.17
• CAS  62-54-4
• UNII    Y882YXF34X
• EC Number   200-540-9
• DSSTox ID  DTXSID0020234
• IUPAC  calcium;diacetate
• InChl=1S/2C2H4O2.Ca/c2*1-2(3)4;/h2*1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+2/p-2
• InChl Key      VSGNNIFQASZAOI-UHFFFAOYSA-L
• SMILES  CC(=O)[O-].CC(=O)[O-].[Ca+2]
• MDL number  MFCD00012448
• PubChem Substance ID    329823342
• ChEBI  
• RTECS  AF7525000
• Nikkaji      J4.823B 
• FEMA    2228
• ICSC    1092
• NACRES    NA.24    

Synonyms:

• calcium ethanoate
• calcium(II) acetate

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) d'Almeida Filho EJ, da Cruz EA, Hoette M, Ruzany F, Keen LN, Lugon JR. Calcium acetate versus calcium carbonate in the control of hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients. Sao Paulo Med J. 2000 Nov 9;118(6):179-84. doi: 10.1590/s1516-31802000000600006. 

(2) Pflanz, S., Henderson, I. S., McElduff, N., & Jones, M. C. (1994). Calcium acetate versus calcium carbonate as phosphate-binding agents in chronic haemodialysis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 9(8), 1121-1124.

(3) Chertow, G.M., Raggi, P., McCarthy, J.T., Schulman, G., Silberzweig, J., Kuhlik, A., Goodman, W.G., Boulay, A., Burke, S.K. and Toto, R.D., 2003. The effects of sevelamer and calcium acetate on proxies of atherosclerotic and arteriosclerotic vascular disease in hemodialysis patients. American journal of nephrology, 23(5), pp.307-314.

(4) Yusuf, A. A., Weinhandl, E. D., & Peter, W. L. S. (2014). Comparative effectiveness of calcium acetate and sevelamer on clinical outcomes in elderly hemodialysis patients enrolled in Medicare part D. American journal of kidney diseases, 64(1), 95-103.