Erythorbic acid explained

Erythorbic acid (isoascorbic acid, D-araboascorbic acid) is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).^[1] It is synthesized by a reaction between methyl 2-keto-D-gluconate and sodium methoxide. It can also be synthesized from sucrose or by strains of Penicillium that have been selected for this feature.^[2] It is denoted by E number E315, and is widely used as an antioxidant in processed foods.^[3]

Clinical trials have been conducted to investigate aspects of the nutritional value of erythorbic acid. One such trial investigated the effects of erythorbic acid on vitamin C metabolism in young women; no effect on vitamin C uptake or clearance from the body was found.^[4] A later study found that erythorbic acid is a potent enhancer of nonheme-iron absorption.^[5]

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of sulfites as a preservative in foods intended to be eaten fresh (such as salad bar ingredients), the use of erythorbic acid as a food preservative has increased.

It is also used as a preservative in cured meats and frozen vegetables.^[6]

It was first synthesized in 1933 by the German chemists Kurt Maurer and Bruno Schiedt.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v28je03.htm Erythorbic acid and its sodium salt
2. Web site: Erythorbic acid.
3. http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers
4. Effects of erythorbic acid on vitamin C metabolism in young women . Sauberlich . HE . Tamura T . Craig CB . Freeberg LE . Liu T . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . September 1996 . 64 . 3 . 336–46 . 10.1093/ajcn/64.3.336 . 8780343. free .
5. Erythorbic acid is a potent enhancer of nonheme-iron absorption . Fidler . MC . Davidsson L . Zeder C . Hurrell RF . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . January 2004 . 79 . 1 . 14684404 . 99–102 . 10.1093/ajcn/79.1.99. free .
6. Book: Hui YH . Handbook of Food Science, Technology and Engineering . CRC Press . 2006 . 0-8493-9848-7 . 83–32 .
7. See:
   • Maurer . Kurt . Schiedt . Bruno . August 2, 1933 . "Die Darstellung einer Säure C₆H₈O₆ aus Glucose, die in ihrer Reduktionskraft der Ascorbinsäure gleicht (Vorläuf. Mitteil.)" (The preparation of an acid C₆H₈O₆ from glucose, which equals ascorbic acid in its reducing power (preliminary report)) . Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft . 66 . 8. 1054–1057 . 10.1002/cber.19330660807 .
   • Maurer . Kurt . Schiedt . Bruno . July 4, 1934 . "Zur Darstellung des Iso-Vitamins C (d-Arabo-ascorbinsäure) (II. Mitteil.)" (On the preparation of iso-vitamin C (d-arabo-ascorbic acid) (2nd report)) . Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft . 67 . 7. 1239–1241 . 10.1002/cber.19340670724 .
8. See also:
   • Ohle . Heinz . Erlbach . Heinz . Carls . Herbert . February 7, 1934 . "d-Gluco-saccharosonsäure, ein Isomeres der Ascorbinsäure, I. Mitteil.: Darstellung und Eigenschaften" (d-Gluco-saccharosonic acid, an isomer of ascorbic acid, 1st report: preparation and properties) . Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft . 67 . 2. 324–332 . 10.1002/cber.19340670235 .
   • Baird . D. K. . Haworth . W. N. . Herbert . R. W. . Hirst . E. L. . Smith . F. . Stacey . M. . 1934 . Ascorbic acid and synthetic analogues . Journal of the Chemical Society . 63–67 . 10.1039/JR9340000062 .
   • Reichstein . T. . Grüssner . A. . Oppenauer . R. . 1934 . "Synthese der Ascorbinsäure und verwandter Verbindungen nach der Oson-Blausäure-Methode"(Synthesis of ascorbic acid and related compounds via the ozone-hydrogen cyanide method) . Helvetica Chimica Acta . 17 . 510–520 . 10.1002/hlca.19340170157 .