The function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000085662 (AKR1B1, aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B) is as follows. Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols. Displays enzymatic activity towards endogenous metabolites such as aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, ketones, monosaccharides, bile acids and xenobiotics substrates (PubMed:10510318, PubMed:12732097, PubMed:1332968, PubMed:21329684, PubMed:8245005, PubMed:4402695, PubMed:1936586). It catalyzes the reduction of glucose to sorbitol, the first step of the polyol pathway, an alternative route of glucose metabolism that converts glucose to fructose (PubMed:4402695, PubMed:1936586). This pathway becomes highly active under elevated glucose levels, such as during hyperglycemia (PubMed:1936586). Reduces steroids and their derivatives and prostaglandins. Displays low enzymatic activity toward all-trans-retinal, 9-cis-retinal, and 13-cis- retinal (PubMed:12732097, PubMed:19010934, PubMed:8343525). Catalyzes the reduction of diverse phospholipid aldehydes such as 1-palmitoyl-2- (5-oxovaleroyl)-sn -glycero-3-phosphoethanolamin (POVPC) and related phospholipid aldehydes that are generated from the oxydation of phosphotidylcholine and phosphatdyleethanolamides (PubMed:17381426). Plays a role in detoxifying dietary and lipid-derived unsaturated carbonyls, such as crotonaldehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2,4-hexadienal and their glutathione-conjugates carbonyls (GS- carbonyls) (PubMed:21329684). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10510318, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12732097, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1332968, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17381426, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19010934, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1936586, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21329684, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8245005, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8343525}.