Studies on the chemical identity and biological functions of pangamic acid

Pangamic acid (6-O-(dimethylaminoacetyl)-D-gluconic acid) has been detected 1938 and described as a natural, universally occurring substance with mult iple biological and medical functions. In this respect pangamic acid has be en worldwide on the market since decades as a drug stimulating cellular res piration. In addition to the natural pangamic acid, diisopropylammonium dic hloroacetate (DIPA), a synthetic product not found in biological material, is on the market requesting similar biological functions. In commercially a vailable drugs on the German market declared as pangamic acid three separat e sbustances can be found by chemical identification of pangamic acid, name ly: gluconic acid, glycine and diisopropylammonium dichloroacetate. As biol ogical functions have been found in vitro inhibition of Cu-dependent LDL ox idation by glycine due to chelation of Cu2+ ions and deterioration of mitoc hondrial respiratory control due to an increased state IV oxygen consumptio n rate at high concentrations of DIPA.