Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols.Displays strong enzymatic activity toward all-trans-retinal, 9-cis-retinal, and 13-cis-retinal.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).Displays no reductase activity towards glucose.