Carl Wilhelm Scheele first isolated malic acid from apples in 1875. Technically a dicarboxylic acid, you can find malic acid in a variety of fruits and many sour and tart-tasting foods. Your body also produces and breaks down malic acid as part of the citric acid cycle. In the citric acid cycle, malic acid provides your cells with energy and carbon structure for the formation of amino acids.
Where Can It Be Found?
In healthy individuals, your body naturally produces enough malic acid for proper body function. You can, however, also find malic acid in several different vegetables and most fruits in varying degrees. Unripe fruits have the highest concentration of malic acid, and according to the "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," apples are the best source of malic acid. You can also purchase malic acid in supplement form. Herbalists commonly recommend malic acid supplements to treat ailments such as fibromyalgia. There is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting the use of malic acid supplements to treat medical conditions.
Medical Products
Malic acid is also found in a variety of medical products. Manufacturers commonly use malic acid to mask the unpleasant taste of certain medications. Additionally, malic acid commonly enhances the fruit flavors in throat lozenges, cough syrups and effervescent tablets and powders. Further, dentists use malic acid to clear the enamel and clean your teeth before placing a new filling in a tooth. Toothpastes, mouthwashes and soaps also use malic acid in combination with germicidal products.
Food Products
There are also many manufactured food products that contain malic acid. Manufacturers use malic acid to maintain freshness in beverages, mask the taste of many chemicals found in carbonated drinks and to enhance flavors. Further, manufacturers often use malic acid in fruit preparations such as jams, jellies and preserves to accentuate the fruit flavor. Cider, wines, fruit-flavored milk drinks, whey-based protein drinks and powder mixes also commonly contain malic acid. Moreover, manufacturers use malic acid to replace citric acid in candies and other tart confectionaries since malic acid is not as sour.
Supplements and Cosmetics
Manufacturers claim that malic acid supplements can help relieve minor pain and give your body an energy boost. These claims made by supplement manufacturers, however, are not supported by clinical evidence. You should speak with your doctor prior to taking malic acid in supplement form. Malic acid is also an alpha hydroxy fruit acid found in some skin care products. Manufacturers of cosmetic products with malic acid purport that you can use these products to gently peel the top layer of your skin and rejuvenate and improve your skin's appearance.
References
- "Journal of Chemical Education"; The Origin of the Names Malic, Maleic, and Malonic Acid; William Jensen 2007
- "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine"; Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno; 1997
- "Integrative Medicine"; David Rakel; 2002
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch and James Balch; 2000
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