2-Oxovaleric acid, also known as 2-oxovalerate or a-ketovalerate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as short-chain keto acids and derivatives. These are keto acids with an alkyl chain the contains less than 6 carbon atoms. 2-Oxovaleric acid has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as anatidaes (Anatidae), chickens (Gallus gallus), domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica), and herbs and spices. This could make 2-oxovaleric acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. 2-Oxovaleric acid is a secondary metabolite. Secondary metabolites are metabolically or physiologically non-essential metabolites that may serve a role as defense or signalling molecules. In some cases they are simply molecules that arise from the incomplete metabolism of other secondary metabolites.
