Hydroxybutyric acid
(Redirected from Hydroxybutyrate)
Hydroxybutyric acid (HBA) is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C4H8O3. It is a hydroxy acid and is classified as a carboxylic acid. The compound exists in several isomeric forms, including gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), which is a naturally occurring substance found in the human central nervous system, as well as in wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all animals in small amounts.
Isomers[edit | edit source]
Hydroxybutyric acid has several isomers, including:
- gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
- beta-Hydroxybutyric acid (BHB)
- alpha-Hydroxybutyric acid (AHB)
Biological Role[edit | edit source]
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a neurotransmitter and a psychoactive drug. It is used medically as a general anesthetic and to treat conditions such as narcolepsy and alcoholism. GHB is also known for its use as a recreational drug and has been associated with cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Synthesis[edit | edit source]
Hydroxybutyric acid can be synthesized through various chemical processes. One common method involves the reduction of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) with a reducing agent such as sodium borohydride.
Metabolism[edit | edit source]
In the human body, hydroxybutyric acid is metabolized into carbon dioxide and water through the citric acid cycle. It is also a precursor to the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Hydroxybutyric acid and its derivatives have several applications:
- GHB is used in medicine for anesthesia and the treatment of narcolepsy.
- BHB is used as a marker for ketosis in metabolic studies.
- AHB is used in biochemical research.
Safety and Legal Status[edit | edit source]
The legal status of hydroxybutyric acid varies by country. In many places, GHB is classified as a controlled substance due to its potential for abuse and its association with drug-facilitated crimes.
See also[edit | edit source]
- gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
- beta-Hydroxybutyric acid
- alpha-Hydroxybutyric acid
- Neurotransmitter
- Carboxylic acid
- Psychoactive drug
- General anesthetic
- Narcolepsy
- Alcoholism
- Drug-facilitated sexual assault
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
