Compounds (citric acid derivatives) represented by formulas (1) and (2) below are novel compounds having an inhibitory effect against liver disorder and can be used as liver disorder inhibitors and food additives (wherein R 1 represents a C1 to C3 alkyl group optionally having a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, and R 2 represents a hydrogen atom, or R 1 and R 2 optionally form a cyclic structure together to represent a C2 to C3 alkylene chain).