Exploring The Benefits Of Malic Acid
Malic acid is a natural substance found in fruit and vegetables – one of the richest sources being apples. It is also naturally present in your body’s cells and large amounts of it are formed and then eventually broken down again on a daily basis. It possesses many health-related benefits such as boosting immunity, maintaining oral health, reducing the risk of poisoning from a build-up of toxic metals and promoting smoother and firmer skin.
Malic Acid: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia connection
One of its most significant benefits lies in its ability to stimulate metabolism and increase energy production. This action is linked to the important role it plays in a process known as the Krebs cycle – named after Sir Hans Krebs, a German-born British biochemist.
Krebs won the Nobel price for physiology in 1953 for describing how a complex series of biochemical reactions takes place within the body’s cells to transform proteins, fat and carbohydrates into water and energy. This process requires a constant supply of vitamins, enzymes and chemical agents such as malic acid, in order to keep it functioning properly 24 hours a day.
The Krebs cycle is vital to our very existence and without it energy production would literally grind to a halt. Therefore it is essential that you have adequate supplies of malic acid in order to promote the efficient functioning of this cycle.
Malic acid plays a vital role in improving overall muscle performance, reversing muscle fatigue following exercise, reducing tiredness and poor energy levels, as well as improving mental clarity. These actions can make it a beneficial treatment for sufferers of fibromyalgia and CFS (both these conditions involve muscle pain, joint tenderness and low energy levels).
According to Dr Jay Goldstein, Director of the CFS Institute in the US: ‘Malic acid is safe, inexpensive and it should be considered a valid therapeutic approach for patients with CFS’.
A six-month study was conducted by scientists working at the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Centre in the US, to examine the efficacy of 1,200mg of malic acid plus 300mg of magnesium a day on 24 fibromyalgia sufferers. Half of the patients were given the active treatment, while the other half only received placebo.
At the end of the study, all of the patients treated with malic acid and magnesium experienced significant improvements in their symptoms – including less pain, reduced muscle stiffness and a more positive mental outlook – without any side effects.
Dr Russell, who led the team of scientists, concluded: ‘The data suggest that malic acid and magnesium are safe and may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Future studies should use malic acid at this dose and continue the therapy for at least two months’.
Malic Acid: A diverse range of benefits
In addition to increasing energy levels, malic acid is also an effective metal chelator. This means it is able to bind to potentially toxic metals that may have accumulated in the body, such as aluminium or lead, and inactivate them. As a result, the risk of toxicity is considerably reduced. Heavy metal overload has been linked to serious problems like liver disease and brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
Malic acid also helps maintain oral hygiene. It stimulates the production of saliva, which reduces the number of harmful bacteria circulating in your mouth, teeth and gums. It acts as an antiseptic too, which also helps to ensure that germs in the mouth are kept to a minimum and considerably reduces the risk of infection. This explains why malic acid is commonly used as an ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpastes.
To add to the list of benefits, malic acid also helps to maintain good, healthy skin. It is classified as an ‘alpha hydroxy acid’ – a chemical term used to describe fruit acids that are used in many cosmetics because of their ability to help exfoliate the skin and act as mild chemical face peels. This helps your skin to look healthier, younger and firmer. For a natural face peel you can apply thin slices of apple (which is a rich natural source) directly onto your skin for 20 minutes and then wash off with rose water.
Malic Acid: What to take for best results
The recommended dosage for malic acid is 600mg capsules taken one to three times a day before food. There are no known contraindications or toxicity linked to malic acid.
Taking magnesium alongside malic acid seems to have a much more pronounced effect on muscle fatigue. The recommended dosage for magnesium citrate is 140mg capsules taken twice a day.
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Sources:
Russell IJ, Michalek JE, Flechas JD. J Rheumatol 1995, 22(5):953-958
Fernandes-Naglik L, Downes J, Shirlaw R. Oral Dis 2001, 7(5):276-280
Abraham G, Flechas J. J Nutr Med 1992, 3:49-59
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Will eating an apple a day be enough to give you the benefits of Malic acid?
I was a pupil of Sir Hans Krebs and fully endorse your summary of the Krebs cycle. This article helped me to realise how my annual crop of more than 1000 apples of 8 different varieties contributes to the well being of my family. At 80 years old both my wife and myself show no heart problems.We both eat at least one apple every day.
David Peel D. Phil.Oxon
Never heard of malic acid before. I will give it a try to see if it helps fight the signs of ageing. We all want stay a bit younger for longer.
I will try malic acid.
I have the Daignosis of fibromyagia and Parathyroid Disease. I am considering Malic Acid but.. have been dosing with Colloidal silver for several years now with very good results to boost my immune system.Is there a detrimental effect to use the Malic Acid with the Silver??
A friend gave me some malic acid and I feel better in days.
you can buy malic acid cheap at any store that makes wine its very cheap ! If you have heart disease read the book called; Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by DR.Caldwell B. Esselstyn check it out at amazon best book you can buy for people with heart disease . I lost 95 lb. in 10 months .
I don’t eat Wheat or restaurant food ;I follow the China study by T. Collin Campbell book ; I eat an organic plant base diet and no dairy , no coffee,. exercise will speed your thyroid and you will not get fat ; and don’t over eat so you don’t stretch your stomach ; be nice to your liver ;your liver controls your thyroid and heart and your health .Eat only blended or juiced and raw organic produce,and no processed foods , no dairy , no wheat , soy , no animal protein , no sugar (only stevia) . Don’t eat tropical fruit its full of sugar . I make a big pot of bean soup every week with; Romano beans , green peas with organic vegetable broth :Your diet must be plant base organic and control your stress , sleep 10 hours a night . I .Don’t take green tea extracts it will slow down your thyroid and dis-balance all your hormones . Follow a alkaline diet and plant base. Raw organic kale , Carrot , juice 2 glasses a day . take Enzymes .The more positive you are the better the body will heal . first thing in the morning I drink nettle tea with half tea spoon of Swedish bitters . I jog 1 hour a day and walk two hours a day when if I don’t jog .
buy the bullet blender and eat raw vegetables and make bean , green pea soups and salads .Stay away from xenoestogens chemicals pesticides in vegetables and fruit these chemicals cause a estrogenic effect in your body to gain weight so eat organic . drink 1 liter of water with lemon a day it will detox your liver and you lose more weight ! water and real lemon is the best . eat organic raw vegetables buy a blender the bullet .
I was reading about apples and MALIC
acid…i read that it can eat away at
plaque build up in arteries… if this is
true and there is no side effects,then
Malic Acid should be studied much much more in laboratories and more
findings published,in heart journals.
I was reading about apples and MALIC
acid…i read that it can eat away at
plaque build up in arteries… if this is
true and there is no side effects,then
Malic Acid should be studied much much more in laboratories and more
findings published,in heart journals.
The staff at Vitahound.com is researching Malic Acid and its potential use and benefits for a natural dog dental treatment (including Bad breath in Dogs) or dog vitamin supplement. This article was very helpful and has verified other information we have obtained on Malic Acid.
Dried raisins are loaded with malic acid.
1/4 cup has 833 mg of malic acid
this was good information
but is there any risks and concerns that should be taken when using mantic acid?
I discovered the energy boost of malic acid whilst taking it prior to a liver and gal bladder flush (the amazing liver and gall bladder flush, andreas moritz @ amazon)
Malic acid softens the intrahepatic “stones” in your liver and gall bladder prior to the flush, which incidentally kick starts an under active thyroid. There is no need to have a gall bladder removed, u can remove ALL the stones in the liver and gall bladder with a series of flushes. I have personally done over 20 in the last few years, always using malic acid for preparation.
We sprinkle a small amount of malic acid powder on the unpopped popcorn in our microwave popper. Everyone loves it, and we don’t need salt. It tastes a lot like “Vinegar and Salt” potato chips.
Thanks for this interesting advice – much different from what I normally read on CFS. Malic acid and Primrose oil – I will try them both as I continue to try to regain my normal energy level.
Thank you for this information. I have had CFS for over a year (mostly severe fatigue and digestive problems). Along with the many supplements I’ve been taking, I will now add malic acid and primrose oil as I continue my journey to a normal healthy energy level.
I buy Magnesium Malate at the local health food store, or FibroMalic at GNC.
I was extremely ill with fibromyalgia and, at times, unable to even lift myself out of bed. I have been taking malic acid faithfully for several years and it has completely changed my life. I am pain-free, and as vigourous as anyone my age.
If I go without Malic Acid for even two days, I can barely walk. I urge everyone with fibromyalgia to please, please try this remedy. It may take several weeks before you begin to feel the effect, but once you do, you will consider it a miracle drug. (When I first became very ill, I craved apple cider — couldn’t get enough of it. My body was trying to tell me something!)
I know that Serrapeptase and Nattokinase help to dissolve fibrin in the clogged arteries of heart patients, does malic acid also have these properties?
I know that serrapetase and nattokinase helps to eat away fribrin in heart patients to unclog arteries, does malic acid help also.
My mother has 2 partly clogged arteries. I hear that taking malic acid and garlic can help over time if this is true please let me know. My mother does not have isurance so please let me know they call this chelation
My mother has 2 partly clogged arteries. I hear that taking malic acid and garlic can help over time if this is true please let me know. My mother does not have isurance so please let me know.
I wanted to bookmark your site, and I wanted to print out an article, but was unable to do either as the popup for 56 pg. booklet would popup anytime I moved curser to top of page. Eve after I downloaded it just to get it to stop popping up, IT STILL POPPED UP. Hope I can just remember (highly unlikely) your site since I can’t bookmark it. This needs to be fixed. Thank you.
Could you please tell me where I will be able to buy malic acid from and how much would I be likely to pay for this. Thank you
I found putting the powder of the capsules (4) into a litre of water and drinking all day is amazing for energy and recently helped me get over a case of swine flu that has left others in my office who had it with lingering symptoms. Amazing product.
Does malic acid really work as a heart chelation to unplug blocked arteries?
Thank you, is next on the list to try
Thank you….. is next on list to try for fybromyalgia and chronic fatigue ..
hi hello thank u
Thank you for this excellent article. I’ve copied the link to another forum to give an explanation of the function of malic acid.
Best of health to you!
good info
I took about 2 weeks 2 tea spone aday and after 4 weeks i go LT Trochanteric Bursitis is the malic acid has any conection with please
Thank you for the info you supply. Does malic acid also help with mercury toxicity?