The absolute stereochemistry of the title compound, C₉H₁₅NO₇, was determined from the use of D-glucuronolactone as the starting material. The compound crystallizes as the zwitterion. The five-membered ring adopts an envelope conformation with the –CH₂OH-substituted C atom forming the flap. An intramolecular N—HO hydrogen-bond occurs. In the crystal, the compound exists as a three-dimensional O—HO intermolecular hydrogen-bonded network with each mol­ecule acting as a donor and acceptor for four hydrogen bonds.