Glucuronolactone

Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical compound produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver.

It has received some notoriety due to urban legends that it was a Vietnam War-era drug manufactured by the American government. The rumor goes on to say that it was banned due to several brain tumor-related deaths.

The rumor has since been proven false, as neither the cited British Medical Journal article nor the "banning of its consumption" ever occurred. Furthermore, no warnings appear on the Food and Drug Administration website regarding its potential to cause brain tumors or other maladies. A Snopes article discussing the rumor can be found here [1].

Glucuronolactone has been shown to improve memory retention and concentration as well as acting as an antidepressant and stimulant. It is present in some energy drinks such as Cintron, Endorush, Red Rooster, Red Bull, Celsius energy drink, Monster, EQ Energy, IRN-BRU 32, Rockstar, Rumba, Burn, Boo Koo, "5-hour Energy", Pollen Burst, and Power Horse. Most of these drinks contain caffeine, but glucuronolactone is included because it is purported to fight fatigue and provide a sense of well-being.