A new process for preparing calcium salts of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid is described. Lactones obtained from ketene and acetone are hydrolyzed in selective and scalable manners. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid or its calcium salts are useful in preparations for inhibiting protein depletion or as immuno-stimulating feedstuff additives for mammals.本發明描述用於製備3-羥基-3-甲基丁酸之鈣鹽之新方法。以可選擇性及可測量性方式水解自烯酮與丙酮獲得之內酯。3-羥基-3-甲基丁酸或其鈣鹽用於抑制蛋白消耗之製備,或用作增強免疫的哺乳動物飼料添加劑。