Malic Acid: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

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).

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

Dry mouth. Using a mouth spray or sucking on a lozenge containing malic acid seems to improve symptoms of dry mouth.

There is interest in using malic acid for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

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.

Special Precautions and 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.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Malic Acid
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.

Dosing

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.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 184 - Direct Food Substances Affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view=text&node=21:3.0.1.1.14&idno=21#se21.3.184_11069.

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Gómez-Moreno G, Guardia J, Aguilar-Salvatierra A, Cabrera-Ayala M, Maté-Sánchez de-Val JE, Calvo-Guirado JL. Effectiveness of malic acid 1% in patients with xerostomia induced by antihypertensive drugs. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2013 Jan 1;18(1):e49-55.

Gómez-Moreno G, Aguilar-Salvatierra A, Guardia J, Uribe-Marioni A, Cabrera-Ayala M, Delgado-Ruiz RA, Calvo-Guirado JL. The efficacy of a topical sialogogue spray containing 1% malic acid in patients with antidepressant-induced dry mouth: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Depress Anxiety. 2013 Feb;30(2):137-42.

Chiriac A, Brzezinski P. Topical malic acid in combination with citric acid: an option to treat recalcitrant warts. Dermatol Ther. 2015;28(6):336-8.

Gómez-Moreno G, Cabrera-Ayala M, Aguilar-Salvatierra A, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of a topical sialogogue spray containing malic acid 1% in elderly people with xerostomia: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Gerodontology. 2014;31(4):274-80.

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 SUBCHAPTER B. 184.1069 Malic Acid. Food and Drug Administration Department Of Health And Human Services. Updated April 1, 2017. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1069. Accessed January 23, 2018.

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Bardellini E, Amadori F, Conti G, Veneri F, Majorana A. Effectiveness of a spray containing 1% malic acid in patients with xerostomia induced by graft-versus-host disease. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019;24(2):e190-e194.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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