Used in the food industry as a low-calorie sweetener due to its minimal impact on blood sugar levels. It is also employed in scientific research for inducing protein expression in bacterial systems, particularly with the araC regulatory system. Additionally, L-arabinose inhibits intestinal sucrase, making it useful in dietary supplements aimed at reducing sucrose digestion and managing blood glucose. It serves as a building block in the synthesis of nucleoside analogs and other bioactive compounds in pharmaceutical chemistry.