Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols (PubMed:12732097, PubMed:18087047, PubMed:19013440, PubMed:19563777, PubMed:9565553). Displays strong enzymatic activity toward all-trans-retinal, 9-cis-retinal, and 13-cis-retinal (PubMed:12732097, PubMed:18087047). Plays a critical 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:19013440, PubMed:19563777). Displays no reductase activity towards glucose (PubMed:12732097).
