Malic acid
Scientific names: Malic Acid
Alternate names: 2-Hydroxybutanedioic Acid, (-)-Acide Malique, (+)-Acide Malique, Acide 2-Hydroxybutanédioïque, Acide Hydroxysuccinique, Acide malique, Acide (R)-Hydroxybutanédioïque, Acide (S)-Hydroxybutanédioïque, Ácido málico, Apple Acid, Hydroxysuccinic Acid, (-)-Malic Acid, (+)-Malic Acid, D-Malic Acid, L-Malic Acid, Malate, Monohydroxysuccinic Acid, (R)-Hydroxybutanedioic Acid, (S)-Hydroxybutanedioic Acid
Actions: Dermatologic, Gastrointestinal, Hypotensive, Weight gain
Background
Malic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid found in certain fruits and wines. It's used in foods and cosmetics, and sometimes as medicine.
Malic acid is sour and acidic. This helps to clear away dead skin cells when applied to the skin. Its sourness also helps to make more saliva in people with dry mouth. Malic acid is also involved in the Krebs cycle. This is a process the body uses to make energy.
People commonly use malic acid for dry mouth. It is also used for acne, fibromyalgia, fatigue, wrinkled skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Malic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. Don't confuse it with other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Malic acid is sour and acidic. This helps to clear away dead skin cells when applied to the skin. Its sourness also helps to make more saliva in people with dry mouth. Malic acid is also involved in the Krebs cycle. This is a process the body uses to make energy.
People commonly use malic acid for dry mouth. It is also used for acne, fibromyalgia, fatigue, wrinkled skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Malic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. Don't confuse it with other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Malic acid is commonly consumed in foods. Malic acid is possibly safe when used as a medicine for up to 6 months.
When applied to the inside of the mouth: Malic acid is possibly safe when used in a mouth spray or lozenge for up to 6 months.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if malic acid is safe. It might cause side effects such as skin and eye irritation.
When applied to the inside of the mouth: Malic acid is possibly safe when used in a mouth spray or lozenge for up to 6 months.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if malic acid is safe. It might cause side effects such as skin and eye irritation.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Malic acid is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if malic acid is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Dry mouth. Using a mouth spray or sucking on a lozenge containing malic acid seems to improve symptoms of dry mouth.
Dosing & administration
Malic acid has most often been used by adults in mouth sprays and lozenges. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Malic acid might lower blood pressure. Taking malic acid along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Malic acid might lower blood pressure. Using it along with other herbs or supplements that might also lower blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all products
Per 36 g (Wild Berry):
- Malic acid
- Magnesium aspartate
- Sodium citrate
- Potassium aspartate
- Calcium citrate
- Glucose monohydrate (Dextrose)
- Maltodextrin
- Rice amylopectin
- Beta vulgaris powder
- Citrulline malate amino acid (L-Citrulline)
- Beta alanine
- Silicon dioxide
- Honey (powder)
- Raspberry flavour
- Creatinol-o-phosphate (Creatine)
- Schisandra chinensis (berry) ext.
- Trimethylglycine (TMG)
- Stevia rebaubiana
RRP: $79.95$67.96Save: 15%
Per 5 g:
- Malic acid
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Schisandra chinensis (berry) ext.
- Vaccinium macrocarpon (berry) powder
- Punica granatum (fruit pericarp) powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (sprout) powder
- Hibiscus sabdariffa powder
- Punica granatum (peel) powder
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple)
- Natural raspberry flavour
- Xanthan gum
- Prunus serotina (fruit) ext. (Black cherry)
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
- Brassica oleracea (leaf & sprout) powder (Kale)
- Zingiber officinale (root) powder
- Rosmarinus officinalis (leaf) powder
- Cinnamomum verum (bark) powder
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Beta vulgaris juice dry
- Raphanus sativus (fruit) powder
- Theobroma cacao (seed) powder
RRP: $59.95$50.96Save: 15%
Per 5 g (Granny Smith):
- Malic acid
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 250 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Cordyceps sinensis 105 mg
- Lentinula edodes 100 mg
- Trametes versicolor 70 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus 100 mg
- Camellia sinensis 500 mg
- Grifola frondosa 125 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 175 mg
- Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder (Kale) 175 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 175 mg
- Nasturtium officinale 160 mg
- Apium graveolens powder 110 mg
- Pleurotus eryngii 100 mg
- Lipase 750 LipU
- Protease 1000 DU
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 350 GDU
- Carica papaya (Papain) 40 mg
- L-glutamine 500 mg
- Bacillus coagulans (LactoSpore®) 4 billion CFU
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus 750 million CFU
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 500 million CFU
- Quercetin 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale 100 mg
- Coriandrum sativum 80 mg
- Zingiber officinale 50 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis 50 mg
- Origanum vulgare powder 50 mg
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana ext.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 100 mg
150 g Granny Smith
RRP: $59.95$53.96Save: 10%
Per 20 g (Grape):
1 kg Grape
RRP: $89.95$76.45Save: 15%
Per 12.5 g (Citrus Burst):
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
Per 5 g (Tropical Fruit):
- Malic acid
- Magnesium citrate
- Magnesium oxide
- Potassium bicarbonate
- Potassium citrate
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3)
- Glycine
- L-glutamine
- Natural flavours
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Calcified lithothamnion (Red algae)
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Biotin
- Choline bitartrate
- Molybdenum
- L-Carnitine
- Calcium ascorbate (Vitamin C)
- Taurine
- Xanthan gum
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenium amino acid chelate
- Chromium nicotinate
RRP: $29.95$25.47Save: 15%
Discontinued by Wonder Foods
Per 5 g (Mixed Berry):
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
Per 10 g (Mixed Berry):
- Malic acid
- Hydroxyproline
- Hyaluronic acid sodium salt (Sodium hyaluronate)
- Astaxanthin
- Malpighia glabra (fruit) ext.
- L-leucine
- L-isoleucine
- L-valine
- L-lysine
- Glutamine
- L-threonine
- Taurine
- DL-phenylalanine
- L-methionine
- L-tryptophan
- L-histidine
- Natural flavours
- Sunflower lecithin
- Daucus carota
- Hibiscus sabdariffa
- Thaumatin
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
Discontinued by ATP Science
Per 9 g (Hawaiian Splice):
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
Per 10 g (Apple Berry):
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
Discontinued by ATP Science
Per 4 g (Lemon Twist):
- Malic acid
- Calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate monohydrate 750 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 500 mg
- Camellia sinensis 100 mg
- Theacrine 75 mg
- Caffeine 125 mg
- Beta alanine 1 g
- Creatine hydrochloride 500 mg
- Taurine 250 mg
- Betaine hydrochloride 250 mg
- Polyphenolic fulvic minerals (Cell Charge™) 5 mg
- Natural flavours
- Silicon dioxide
- Stevia rebaubiana
RRP: $69.99$61.59Save: 12%
Per 4 g (Grape):
- Malic acid
- Camellia sinensis 200 mg
- Coffea canephora 150 mg
- Theobroma cacao 50 mg
- Gamma-Butyrobetaine (GBB) 50 mg
- Polyphenolic fulvic minerals (Cell Charge™) 10 mg
- Acetyl L-carnitine (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 1 g
- Carnitine tartrate 500 mg
- L-tyrosine 500 mg
- Citrus aurantium 60 mg
- Aframomum melegueta 25 mg
- Chromium picolinate 200 µg
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana
RRP: $79.99$70.39Save: 12%
Per 3.25 g (Creamy Vanilla):
RRP: $64.99$54.59Save: 16%
Per 6 g:
- Malic acid
- Magnesium citrate
- Magnesium glycinate
- Fragaria ananassa (juice) powder (Strawberry)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Garcinia mangostana (fruit) powder
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Lycium barbarum (fruit) (Goji)
- Glycine
- Magnesium orotate
- Potassium citrate
- Taurine
- L-glutamine
- Coconut water powder
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Calcium citrate
- Natural strawberry flavour
- Levocarnitine tartrate (L-carnitine)
- Curry leaf extract
- Psidium guajava (Guava)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Phyllanthus emblica
- Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Bixa orellana
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Zinc citrate dihydrate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Folic acid
- Thaumatin
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus (fruit) powder
Per 6 g:
- Malic acid
- Magnesium citrate
- Magnesium amino acid chelate
- Magnesium orotate
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Glycine
- Potassium citrate
- Taurine
- L-glutamine
- Coconut water powder
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Calcium citrate
- Levocarnitine tartrate (L-carnitine)
- Curry leaf extract
- Psidium guajava (Guava)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Ocimum tenuiflorum ext.
- Bixa orellana ext.
- Orthosilicic acid (Silica)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Zinc citrate dihydrate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Thaumatin
- Folic acid
- Phyllanthus emblica
- Natural vanilla flavour
Per 6 g (Berry):
- Malic acid
- L-glutamine 1 g
- N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) 1.5 g
- L-proline 750 mg
- L-threonine 1 g
- L-serine 750 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Natural strawberry flavour
- Fragaria ananassa (juice) powder (Strawberry)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry)
- Garcinia mangostana juice dry
- Lycium chinese juice dry
- Glycine
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Thaumatin
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus
Discontinued by NPM
Per 1 g (Lemon):
- Malic acid
- Glycine
- Natural lemon flavour
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
Discontinued by RN Labs
Per 5 g:
- Malic acid
- Citrus pectin 1.7 g
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder 710 mg
- Wakame 640 mg
- Sodium alginate 400 mg
- Coriandrum sativum 300 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica 150 mg
- Marine phytoplankton powder 15 mg
- Natural flavours
- Sunflower lecithin
- Thaumatin
- Stevia rebaubiana
Discontinued by NPM
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This monograph was last reviewed on 30/04/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 31/05/2018 22:48:30. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
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