Glucuronic acid
Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)
Glucuronic acid, also known as phytic acid, phytate, or E391, is an important biological molecule that has several critical functions in the human body. It is a natural organic compound made up of six molecules of phosphate and myo-inositol. It is naturally present in many plant seeds, especially grains, nuts and soybeans, but also in animal products.
Phytate is important mainly for its ability to bind minerals of all kinds, such as copper, zinc, iron or calcium, with which it forms insoluble phytates. These contain high levels of phosphate and can cause some health problems in the human body, such as reducing the absorption of these minerals. However, this fact is also exploited in the food industry. Phytate-based preparations are used as preservatives and emulsifiers. E391 is also used in industry as an antioxidant additive or as an acidity regulator. In medicine, phytates are used in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia because they help to reduce phosphate levels in the blood.
Glucuronic acid can be found in the following products
