Calcium acetate

Calcium acetate is the calcium salt of acetic acid, with the formula Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂. It is used as a food additive and as a phosphate-binding medicine for people with kidney disease.

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Phosphate binder: A substance that binds phosphate in the digestive tract and reduces its absorption. Calcium acetate binds dietary phosphate before it enters the bloodstream.
Calcium ion: A calcium atom or group with a net positive charge, commonly Ca²⁺ in aqueous solutions. Dissolved calcium acetate releases the calcium ions that bind phosphate.
Acetic acid: A two-carbon carboxylic acid with the formula CH₃COOH, also called ethanoic acid. Calcium acetate is formed from the conjugate base of acetic acid.
Sevelamer: A non-calcium polymer medication that binds phosphate in the digestive tract. Unlike calcium acetate, it lowers phosphate without adding calcium.
Hyperphosphatemia: An abnormally high concentration of phosphate in the blood. Calcium acetate is prescribed to lower phosphate levels in people with chronic kidney disease.
Acetate: The negatively charged ion CH₃COO⁻, formed by deprotonation of acetic acid. Acetate is the counterion paired with calcium in the compound.
Calcium: A reactive alkaline-earth metal with atomic number 20. Calcium supplies the divalent cation in calcium acetate.
Lanthanum carbonate: A phosphate-binding medicine containing the rare-earth element lanthanum. It offers phosphate control without the calcium load associated with calcium acetate.
Chronic kidney disease: A long-term loss of kidney function that impairs filtration and regulation of the body's chemistry. Reduced phosphate excretion can make calcium acetate useful in managing this disease.
Calcium phosphate: A family of ionic compounds composed of calcium and phosphate ions. Calcium from the medicine can combine with phosphate in the intestine to form poorly absorbed compounds.