Alkanoic acid derivatives represented by the general formula (I) or salts thereof, useful as preventive and/or therapeutic agents for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and so on: (I) wherein R1 is an optionally substituted five-membered aromatic heterocyclic group; X is a free valency or the like; Q is a divalent hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Y is a free valency or the like; A is an aromatic ring which may have one to three substituents; Z is -(CH¿2)n-Z?1- (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 8; and Z1 is oxygen or the like) or the like; B is an optionally mono- to tri-substituted pyridine ring or the like; U is a free valency or the like; W is a divalent hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and R3 is -OH or the like, with the proviso that when B is an optionally mono- to tri-substituted benzene ring, U is a free valency.