| Description | Galactaric acid, also known as mucic acid or galactarate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as glucuronic acid derivatives. Glucuronic acid derivatives are compounds containing a glucuronic acid moiety (or a derivative), which consists of a glucose moiety with the C6 carbon oxidized to a carboxylic acid. Technically, galactaric acid is an aldaric acid obtained by oxidation of galactose. Galactaric acid exists as a white crystalline powder, which melts at 210 - 230 oC. It is insoluble in alcohol, and nearly insoluble in cold water (1 g/300 mL) but more soluble in hot water (1 g/60 mL).. Galactaric acid exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to plants to humans. In plants, galactaric acid is commonly produced or utilized as an osmorgulator (PMID: 31505987 ). Galactaric acid has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as fruits, vegetables and bovine milk. A recent large-scale dietary study found that galactaric acid can serve as a biomarker for long-term dairy intake and for the consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables (PMID: 33566801 ). In food production, galactaric acid can be used to replace tartaric acid in self-rising flour or fizzies. |
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| InChI Identifier | InChI=1S/C6H10O8/c7-1(3(9)5(11)12)2(8)4(10)6(13)14/h1-4,7-10H,(H,11,12)(H,13,14)/t1-,2+,3+,4- |
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