Used in the food industry as a sweetener and nutrient supplement, particularly in infant formulas and dairy products to mimic the composition of human milk. It is also employed in the production of probiotics and prebiotics to promote gut health.

In the pharmaceutical sector, it serves as a raw material for synthesizing drugs and diagnostic agents, including those used in liver function tests.

Additionally, it plays a role in biochemical research for studying carbohydrate metabolism and enzyme activity. It is commonly used as an animal model to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular senescence, and symptoms mimicking neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, aiding in the understanding of aging-related pathologies.