What Is Caproic Acid (6:0) & What Foods Can I Find It In?

3D-model of Caproic acid (6:0) (src)

Caproic acid, 6:0, is a naturally found saturated medium-chain fatty acid.

The primary use of caproic acid is in the manufacture of its esters for artificial flavors. It is, for instance, one of the components of vanilla.

Caproic acid is not only used for the formation of esters but is also commonly used for flavoring butter, milk, cream, strawberries, bread, beer, nut, and other foods.

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Uses Of Caproic Acid

Caproic acid is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid, also known as Hexanoic acid. (source )

Caproic acid is considered a valuable industrial commodity. It has twice the value of ethanol per carbon atom.

Therefore, it’s commonly used in medicine, and the food industry. (source )

Caproic acid is an important chemical, widely used in the chemical industry.

Caproic acid can be used to make things like:

Caproic acid as a food additive

It can also be used as a food additive.

Caproic acid as a food additive is used in the food industry for the preservation of meat, fats, and oils, and to increase the shelf life of some types of cheese.

It can also be used as a flavoring agent for some foods.

Benefits Of Caproic Acid

Caproic acid seems to be beneficial for the prevention of dental caries, periodontal disease, and bad breath.

It also has the ability to stabilize the tooth surface and prevent dental plaque formation.

It is also reported to be beneficial in the treatment of gingivitis and pyorrhea.

Foods You Can Find Caproic Acid (6:0) In

You find Caproic Acid (6:0) mostly in dairy and egg, fats and oil, and sauce and gravy products.

Examples of food sources include

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated top-ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most Caproic Acid (6:0) we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top-ranked list of foods that contain Caproic Acid (6:0).

Sara Niemelä

co-founder Care Omnia, Head Content Creator

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Nutrition is my passion. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading, analyzing, categorizing and comparing research studies.

I’m a wife and a mother of three. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my family.