Glucuronic acid

A sugar acid formed when the sixth carbon of glucose is oxidized to a carboxyl group, giving a molecule the body uses as a versatile detoxification tool. In the liver, enzymes attach glucuronic acid to drugs, hormones, and potentially harmful compounds in a process called glucuronidation, making them water-soluble so they can be excreted in urine or bile. It is also a structural building block of connective-tissue polysaccharides and of plant gums such as gum arabic and xanthan, contributing to their viscosity and stability. Fermented drinks like kombucha contain small amounts generated by microbial metabolism. While not a direct food additive in most jurisdictions, its conjugates and derivatives appear in nutrition science, and understanding its biochemistry helps explain how the body clears foreign substances encountered through food and medicine.