Any compound comprising a butyric acid core carrying at least one hydroxy substituent.
| Member | Definition | Role |
|---|
| 2-hydroxybutyric acid | A hydroxybutyric acid having a single hydroxyl group located at position 2; urinary secretion of 2-hydroxybutyric acid is increased with alcohol ingestion or vigorous physical exercise and is associated with lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis in humans and diabetes in animals. | 2-hydroxybutyric acid |
| 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate | A omega-hydroxy fatty acid that is butyric acid substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 2 and 4 respectively. | 2,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid |
| 3-hydroxybutyric acid | A straight-chain 3-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid comprising a butyric acid core with a single hydroxy substituent in the 3- position; a ketone body whose levels are raised during ketosis, used as an energy source by the brain during fasting in humans. Also used to synthesise biodegradable plastics. | 3-hydroxybutyric acid |
| 4-hydroxybutyric acid | A 4-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is butyric acid in which one of the hydrogens at position 4 is replaced by a hydroxy group. | 4-hydroxybutyric acid |