Caproic Acid
A medium-chain fat with a distinctive aroma.
What is Caproic Acid?
Caproic acid (hexanoic acid) is a six-carbon medium-chain saturated fatty acid. It is found in goat and cow milk fat and gives some cheeses their characteristic pungent, "goaty" aroma. Like other medium-chain fats, it is absorbed quickly and used readily for energy.
Health benefits of Caproic Acid
- Quickly absorbed and burned for fast energy
- Contributes to the flavor of dairy and aged cheeses
- Part of the medium-chain fatty-acid family
Top food sources of Caproic Acid
See full rankingGoat and cow milk fat, butter, certain cheeses and coconut oil. Values shown per 100 g.
Butter, salted
2,007 mg
Butter, without salt
2,007 mg
Butter oil, anhydrous
1,910 mg
Butter, whipped, with salt
1,557 mg
Butter, light, stick, with salt
1,060 mg
Butter, light, stick, without salt
1,060 mg
Cheese, goat, hard type
782 mg
Oil, industrial, coconut, confection fat, typical basis for ice cream coatings
752 mg
Oil, industrial, coconut, principal uses candy coatings, oil sprays, roasting nuts
750 mg
Candies, toffee, prepared-from-recipe
721 mg
Cream, fluid, heavy whipping
710 mg
Cheese, roquefort
660 mg
How much Caproic Acid do you need?
There is no Daily Value. It is a minor component of dairy fat and some oils.
Caproic Acid deficiency
There is no dietary requirement or recognized deficiency for caproic acid.
Nutrition data per 100 g from the USDA & FooDB databases. Daily Values follow the FDA 2016+ labeling standard for a 2,000-calorie diet. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice.
Related nutrients
Frequently asked questions
What does Caproic Acid do?
Caproic acid (hexanoic acid) is a six-carbon medium-chain saturated fatty acid. It is found in goat and cow milk fat and gives some cheeses their characteristic pungent, "goaty" aroma. Like other medium-chain fats, it is absorbed quickly and used readily for energy.
How much Caproic Acid do I need per day?
There is no Daily Value. It is a minor component of dairy fat and some oils.
Which foods are highest in Caproic Acid?
Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Butter, salted, Butter, without salt, Butter oil, anhydrous, Butter, whipped, with salt, Butter, light, stick, with salt.
What happens if I don't get enough Caproic Acid?
There is no dietary requirement or recognized deficiency for caproic acid.