3-Hydroxyheptanoic acid is utilized in the synthesis of flavor and fragrance compounds, where it forms lactones exhibiting creamy, coconut-like, or fatty notes. As a chiral building block, it plays a key role in organic synthesis for preparing bioactive molecules and pharmaceutical intermediates. In biotechnology, it serves as an intermediate for producing biodegradable polyesters like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), enabling eco-friendly materials and applications in medical devices such as wound dressings and degradable syringes. Furthermore, it is studied in lipid metabolism research and evaluated as a potential biomarker for metabolic disorders.