Erythorbic acid

Erythorbic acid or erythorbate, formerly known as isoascorbic acid and D-araboascorbic acid, is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid. It is a vegetable derived food additive produced from sucrose. It is denoted by E Number E315, and is widely used as an antioxidant in processed foods. 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. A later study found that erythorbic acid is a potent enhancer of nonheme-iron absorption.