Catalyzes the reduction of 3-hydroxypropanal. Is considerably less active with glyceraldehyde, propionaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and butyraldehyde. Also catalyzes the oxidation of various primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols. Is most active with substrates containing two primary alcohol groups separated by one or two carbon atoms. 1,3-propanediol is the preferred substrate. NAD(+) + propane-1,3-diol = 3-hydroxypropanal + H(+) + NADH Inhibited by the metal chelator 1,10-phenanthroline. Homooctamer. Belongs to the iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family.