| Description | Diacetyl, also known as 2,3-butadione or dimethylglyoxal, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as alpha-diketones. These are organic compounds containing two ketone groups on two adjacent carbon atoms. Thus, diacetyl is considered to be an oxygenated hydrocarbon lipid molecule. Diacetyl is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. Diacetyl exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Diacetyl is a strong, sweet, and butter tasting compound. Outside of the human body, diacetyl is found, on average, in the highest concentration in kohlrabis. diacetyl has also been detected, but not quantified in several different foods, such as nances, tartary buckwheats, tamarinds, pineapples, and celeriacs. This could make diacetyl a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Diacetyl is a potentially toxic compound. Diacetyl has been found to be associated with several diseases such as crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; also diacetyl has been linked to the inborn metabolic disorders including celiac disease. |
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