Dihydroxyacetone is a carbohydrate with three carbon atoms that can take the chemical formula of phosphate, dextrorotatory, and be used as a tanning ingredient.
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What is Dihydroxyacetone
Known as “DHA,” Dihydroxyacetone is a simple carbohydrate that belongs to the group called triose. It is also part of the ketoses and ketotrioses. It is the simplest of all as it is only composed of 3 carbon atoms. It is soluble in acetone, water, ethanol, and ethyl ether.
It is used in cosmetics and dermatology as an ingredient or cosmetic for tanning. It is obtained from plant extracts of beets and sugar cane, although it can also be extracted through the fermentation process of glycerin or glycerol.
Chemical Properties
- Formula of Dihydroxyacetone: C3H6O3.
- Color: white.
- Taste: sweet.
- Non-chirality.
- Non-optical activity.
- Soluble in: water, ethanol, acetone, ethyl ether.
- Other names: DHA.
Besides the methods mentioned, it is possible to obtain dihydroxyacetone and its properties through different mixtures and laboratory reactions. For this, glycerol can be oxidized with an oxidizing agent like ferrous salt as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, which will yield DHA or dihydroxyacetone with glyceraldehyde.
Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate
With this chemical form, it is present in many biological processes and related to fructose, specifically with the degradation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, which is transformed into glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) or glyceron phosphate is a compound involved in the plant Calvin cycle and in human glycolysis.
Glycolysis of Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate
In human glycolysis, Dihydroxyacetone phosphate appears through the dehydrogenation of L-glycerol-3-phosphate, a part of glycerol. This metabolic chemical process occurs when triglycerides are degraded. When the reaction is reversed, L-glycerol-3-phosphate appears instead of Dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which is necessary for adipose cells and the activation of triacylglycerols.
Is it the same as docosahexaenoic acid or DHA?
Although their abbreviated name DHA is the same, it is not docosahexaenoic acid. Both are different chemical substances or compounds. Care should be taken not to confuse them, as they act chemically in different ways, and the properties of docosahexaenoic acid are different.
Is it dextrorotatory?
Isomers have the characteristic of deflecting polarized light at a specific angle when dissolution occurs. Carbon compounds such as dihydroxyacetone do not deflect light.
To define it as levorotatory or dextrorotatory, Dihydroxyacetone should deflect light to the right (dextrorotatory) or left (levorotatory). Dextrorotatory (+) compounds deflect light to the right, and levorotatory (-) compounds deflect it to the left.
Uses
When combined with pyruvate, it improves the degradation of fats in the human body and facilitates muscle mass growth.
It is used as a treatment for people with disorders related to glycogenosis. The uses of dihydroxyacetone as a medication or drug are as a topical lotion to apply to the skin or as a supplement to ingest.
It has also been proven to act as a skin dye. It does not penetrate the stratum corneum, which prevents side effects and makes it adhere to the keratin of the skin, on the outside, giving a color similar to a natural tan. It forms melanoidin, which is very similar to melanin.
Wine Industry
It can be added to wine to give a sweet flavor and add earthy aromas. DHA or dihydroxyacetone reacts with proline and prevents the proliferation of microbes and microorganisms that can decrease the quality of wine.
Tanning
As an active ingredient to get a tan quickly, it is included. Generally, for this purpose, it comes from sugar cane, but it can be added synthetically or from other plants. Dihydroxyacetone for tanning attaches to the skin, to the outer or stratum corneum layer, giving a darker, brown, or golden tone to the skin.
Currently, it is an active ingredient that indicates how long the self-tanner lasts. This type of cream to get tanned dyes the superficial layer of the epidermis, simulating melanin formation in the skin. In this case, it works as a pigment that stains.