E352 Calcium malates is a food additive and the calcium salt of malic acid.
E352 Calcium malates functions as a safe, regulated acidity regulator, firming agent, and flavor enhancer in a variety of foods.
E352 Calcium malates is a compound with formula Ca(C2H4O(COO)2).
CAS Number: 16426-50-9
Molecular Formula: C4H4CaO5
Molecular Weight: 172.14956
Synonyms: Calcium malate, 17482-42-7, calcium dl-malate, 16426-50-9, UNII-D48OP746DW, D48OP746DW, EINECS 241-498-1, Butanedioic acid, hydroxy-, calcium salt (1:1), CALCIUM MALATE, DL-, DL-MONOCALCIUM MALATE, INS NO.352(II), CALCIUM MALATE [WHO-DD], INS-352(II), MONOCALCIUM MALATE, D, L-, E-352(II), RefChem:122856, Calcium salt of malic acid, 241-498-1, calcium 2-hydroxysuccinate, calcium;2-hydroxybutanedioate, CalciumMalate21per cent, Malic acid calcium salt, calcium 2-hydroxybutanedioate, calciummalate, C4H4CaO5, SCHEMBL121114, DTXSID30936929, AKOS015914144, DB-253754, DB-369919, NS00085745, G72806, Q1356722, BUTANEDIOIC ACID, HYDROXY,CALCIUM SALT;CALCIUM MALATE;CALCIUM DL-MALATE;DL-MALIC ACID CALCIUM SALT;2-Hydroxybutanedioic acid calcium salt;calcium 2-hydroxybutanedioate;calcium 2-hydroxysuccinate;Apple calciuM, CalciumMalate21%
E352 Calcium malates is the calcium salt of malic acid.
As a food additive, it has the E number E352.
E352 Calcium malates occurs naturally in maple sap, but is filtered out in the production of maple syrup.
E352 Calcium malates are the calcium salts of malic acid, typically existing as a mixture of mono- and di-calcium malate forms, and they are used mainly as an acidity regulator, firming agent, stabilizer, and calcium source in food and industrial applications because they help control pH, strengthen texture in plant tissues, and provide a relatively bioavailable form of calcium without introducing strong or harsh acidity.
They are closely related to natural malic acid found in apples and many fruits.
E352 Calcium malates improves mineral supply and acidity control.
E352 Calcium malates consist of malic acid (a dicarboxylic acid with a hydroxyl group) combined with calcium ions (Ca²⁺), forming salts that are moderately soluble in water and able to release calcium gradually depending on pH conditions.
This structure allows both buffering and mineral contribution functions.
E352 Calcium malates improves functional versatility in formulations.
Physically, they appear as a white to off-white crystalline powder, and their solubility in water is moderate, meaning they can dissolve enough to act in liquid systems but also provide controlled release behavior in some applications.
They are stable under normal storage conditions and non-volatile.
E352 Calcium malates improves handling and formulation stability.
E352 Calcium malates acts mainly as a dual-purpose additive, both regulating acidity through the malate system and supplying calcium, which is important for structural reinforcement in foods and for maintaining mineral balance in formulations.
It can also help stabilize products containing fruit acids.
E352 Calcium malates improves texture control and nutritional value.
E352 Calcium malates are best described as calcium salts of malic acid used to regulate acidity, stabilize food systems, and provide calcium while supporting texture and structural integrity in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial applications.
E352 Calcium malates are also important in food formulation engineering, because they behave as a combined system of both an organic acid (malate) and a mineral (calcium), which means they can simultaneously influence acidity, mineral balance, and texture in a way that single-function additives cannot achieve.
E352 Calcium malates dual behavior makes them especially valuable in complex food matrices.
This improves multifunctionality and formulation efficiency.
In fruit ripening and processing control, E352 Calcium malates are relevant because calcium ions help stabilize plant cell walls by interacting with pectin, while malate contributes to natural acidity, so together they influence firmness and structural integrity during processing of fruits like apples, pears, and berries.
This is especially important in canned and processed fruit products.
E352 Calcium malates improves texture retention and structural stability.
In beverage sensory design, they are used not only for acidity regulation but also for modifying the “smoothness” of sourness, because malic acid produces a slower, less sharp acidic sensation compared to citric acid, making drinks feel less aggressive on the palate.
This is useful in flavored waters and juice blends.
E352 Calcium malates improves sensory quality and taste balance.
In nutritional science applications, calcium malates are valued because malate is directly involved in cellular energy metabolism (as part of the Krebs cycle), which makes calcium delivery via malate salts potentially more physiologically compatible than some other calcium salts.
This is especially relevant in dietary supplement design.
This improves metabolic compatibility and supplement design.
In fortified beverage stability, they help prevent precipitation issues that often occur when calcium is added to acidic drinks, because malate forms more stable complexes that remain dissolved under a wider range of pH conditions.
This reduces clouding and sediment formation.
E352 Calcium malates improves clarity and mineral stability.
E352 Calcium malates can indirectly influence protein interactions by controlling ionic strength and calcium availability, which affects how proteins fold, aggregate, or remain dispersed in liquid systems.
E352 Calcium malates is important in dairy alternatives and nutritional drinks.
This improves emulsion stability and protein behavior control.
In industrial food scaling processes, they are used because they integrate well into large-scale liquid systems where both acidity and mineral fortification must be controlled simultaneously without causing processing instability.
This makes them suitable for continuous production lines.
E352 Calcium malates improves industrial scalability and process consistency.
Melting point: >300°C
storage temp.: Hygroscopic, -20°C Freezer, Under inert atmosphere
solubility: Methanol (Slightly, Heated), Water (Slightly, Heated, Sonicated)
form: Solid
color: White to Off-White
LogP: -1.261 (est)
E352 Calcium malates are widely used in fruit-based food systems, where they interact naturally with malic acid (a major acid in apples, pears, and other fruits) to help maintain stable acidity while also contributing calcium that can strengthen cell wall structures in processed fruit products.
This makes them particularly useful in fruit processing and preservation.
E352 Calcium malates improves texture stability and fruit product quality.
E352 Calcium malates help balance acidity while reducing excessive sourness, because malic acid provides a smoother acid profile compared to sharper acids like citric acid, resulting in a more rounded taste experience.
They also help stabilize mineral balance in the liquid.
E352 Calcium malates improves flavor smoothness and beverage stability.
E352 Calcium malates are used to provide calcium fortification while avoiding the harsh taste sometimes associated with other calcium salts, making them useful in nutritional beverages and fortified drinks.
They also help maintain emulsion stability in some formulations.
E352 Calcium malates improves nutritional value and product compatibility.
E352 Calcium malates are used as a source of calcium with relatively good bioavailability, and malate forms are often preferred because they are associated with energy metabolism pathways in the body (malic acid is part of the Krebs cycle).
This makes them attractive for dietary supplements.
E352 Calcium malates improves mineral absorption and metabolic compatibility.
In food fortification systems, E352 Calcium malates are used to enrich products with calcium without significantly altering taste or causing precipitation issues that can occur with less soluble calcium salts.
This is especially important in liquid fortified foods.
E352 Calcium malates improves nutritional fortification and formulation stability.
In texture and firmness control, E352 Calcium malates are used in processed fruits and vegetables to help maintain structural integrity by interacting with pectin and cell wall components, reducing softening during storage and processing.
This is important in canned and processed fruit products.
E352 Calcium malates improves firmness retention and product quality.
In industrial food processing, E352 Calcium malates can help stabilize systems where both acidity and mineral balance must be carefully controlled, especially in complex formulations containing multiple organic acids.
They help prevent unwanted chemical interactions.
E352 Calcium malates improves process stability and formulation control.
E352 Calcium malates are relevant because malate is a key intermediate in cellular respiration, making them useful for studying calcium interactions in biological systems and energy metabolism pathways.
This links food chemistry with biological function.
E352 Calcium malates improves biochemical understanding and research relevance.
In environmental chemistry, E352 Calcium malates are naturally occurring and biodegradable, meaning calcium malates are considered environmentally compatible and part of natural organic acid cycles in plants and soil systems.
This supports their use in sustainable formulation design.
E352 Calcium malates improves environmental safety and biodegradability.
In analytical and formulation science, calcium malates are studied to understand how calcium interacts with organic acids under different pH conditions, which is important for designing stable food, beverage, and pharmaceutical systems.
Their behavior helps predict stability in real-world formulations.
E352 Calcium malates improves formulation modeling and chemical predictability.
E352 Calcium malates naturally occur in plant metabolism and soil chemistry, meaning calcium malates represent a naturally cycling compound system that is easily broken down and reused in biological environments.
This supports their classification as environmentally compatible additives.
E352 Calcium malates improves sustainability and ecological integration.
E352 Calcium malates are used to study how acidity and mineral content together affect shelf life, texture, and sensory perception, helping scientists predict how foods will behave over time under different storage conditions.
This is important for predictive food science.
E352 Calcium malates improves shelf-life prediction and formulation modeling.
In controlled-release nutrition systems, they are sometimes explored as part of formulations where calcium release is intended to be gradual rather than immediate, depending on pH and digestive conditions.
This can improve absorption efficiency in some supplement designs.
E352 Calcium malates improves controlled nutrient delivery and bioavailability design.
E352 Calcium malates is a compound with formula Ca.
E352 Calcium malates occurs naturally in maple sap, but is filtered out in the production of maple syrup.
E352 Calcium malates is related to, but different from, calcium citrate malate.
Uses:
E352 Calcium malates consists of calcium and malic acid.
E352 Calcium malates are mainly used as an acidity regulator, firming agent, calcium source, and stabilizer because they help control pH, strengthen food structure, and provide nutritional calcium.
In food and beverages, they are used to regulate acidity and improve taste balance.
E352 Calcium malates improves flavor quality and stability.
In fruit and vegetable processing, they are used to maintain firmness and texture.
This improves product structure and shelf life.
In calcium-fortified foods and drinks, they are used as a calcium source.
E352 Calcium malates improves nutritional value and bioavailability.
In pharmaceutical and supplement products, they are used for calcium delivery.
E352 Calcium malates improves absorption and metabolic compatibility.
In industrial food systems, they are used to stabilize acid–mineral interactions.
This improves formulation control and consistency.
E352 Calcium malates are mainly used as an acidity regulator, calcium source, and firming/stabilizing agent because they help control pH, strengthen structure, and provide bioavailable calcium in food and pharmaceutical systems.
In food and beverages, they are used to regulate acidity and improve taste balance.
E352 Calcium malates improves flavor quality and stability.
In fruit and vegetable processing, they are used to maintain firmness and texture.
E352 Calcium malates improves product structure and shelf life.
In calcium-fortified foods and drinks, they are used as a calcium source.
E352 Calcium malates improves nutritional value and mineral delivery.
In pharmaceutical and supplement products, they are used for calcium supplementation.
E352 Calcium malates improves absorption and metabolic compatibility.
E352 Calcium malates are used to stabilize acid–calcium interactions.
This improves formulation control and consistency.
E352 Calcium malates are mainly used as an acidity regulator, calcium source, and firming/stabilizing agent because they help control pH, supply calcium in a bioavailable form, and improve the texture and structural stability of food and related products.
In food and beverage products, they are used to adjust acidity while keeping a smooth, less sharp sour taste compared with stronger acids, which helps maintain a balanced flavor profile in juices, flavored waters, and fruit-based drinks.
E352 Calcium malates improves taste quality and sensory smoothness.
In fruit and vegetable processing, they are used as firming agents because calcium strengthens plant cell walls by interacting with pectin, helping fruits and vegetables retain structure during processing, heating, or storage.
E352 Calcium malates improves texture retention and product integrity.
In calcium-fortified foods and beverages, they are used as a calcium source that is relatively well tolerated in liquid systems, helping increase nutritional value without causing excessive precipitation or off-flavors.
E352 Calcium malates improves mineral fortification and product stability.
In pharmaceutical and dietary supplements, they are used to deliver calcium in a form that is compatible with malate metabolism pathways, supporting formulations designed for bone health and mineral supplementation.
E352 Calcium malates improves calcium delivery and absorption potential.
E352 Calcium malates are used to stabilize interactions between organic acids and minerals, helping prevent unwanted changes in texture, clarity, or consistency during processing and storage.
This improves formulation reliability and product consistency.
Safety Profile:
E352 Calcium malates are generally considered a low hazard food additive, especially because they are based on naturally occurring malic acid and calcium, both of which are common in biological systems, though concentrated forms can still cause mild irritation.
The main hazard is mild irritation to skin, eyes, and respiratory system, especially from dust during industrial handling.
Protective equipment is recommended.
E352 Calcium malates improves workplace safety.
Skin contact is generally low risk, though prolonged exposure may cause slight dryness or irritation.
Washing with water is sufficient.
Eye contact may cause moderate irritation, especially from powder exposure.
Eye protection is recommended.
Inhalation of dust may cause temporary respiratory irritation, particularly in poorly ventilated environments.
Dust control is recommended.
E352 Calcium malates is not flammable and is stable under normal storage conditions.
This improves handling safety.
From a toxicological perspective, calcium malates are considered safe within regulated limits due to their natural metabolic relevance (malate is part of the Krebs cycle) and low toxicity profile.
However, industrial exposure should still be controlled.
E352 Calcium malates requires standard hygiene practices.