What is malic acid?

Malic acid is an organic compound, and is the active ingredient in many sour or tart foods. Malic acid is found mostly in unripe fruits, and it contributes to the sourness of green apples, and is also present in grapes. It confers a tart taste to wine, although the amount decreases with increasing fruit ripeness. The process of malolactic fermentation converts malic acid to much milder lactic acid(one of the main contributors to the acidity of a wine). Malic acid has a sharp, green taste - rather like the tangy freshness of a green apple. Whereas this may be desirable in some white wines, in others, and in most reds, it is not. Hence winemakers encourage its conversion to lactic acid with the malolactic fermentation.

Benefits of malic acid

Malic acid benefits us in many ways. It aids in improving oral hygiene, promoting healthy skin, increasing energy levels, and helping fibromyalgia.

Malic acid improves oral hygiene by stimulating the production of saliva, which in turn helps fight off bad bacteria inside our mouths, and is a common ingredient found in many rinses and mouth washes.

Malic acid improves skin health because it has a higher buffer capacity at the Ph of the skin acid mantle. Because of this, malic acid is also commonly found in wet wipes, and it helps by restoring the Ph of skin.

What is fibromyalgia?

According to Google health, Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety.
Fibromyalgia can develop on its own or along with other musculoskeletal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include body aches, Chronic facial muscle pain or aching, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, memory difficulties, numbness and tingling, palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance, sleep disturbances, and tension or migraine headaches.

Malic acid and fibromyalgia

Malic acid is important to the production of energy in the body during both aerobic and anaerobic conditions Under aerobic conditions, the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate provides reducing equivalents to the mitochondria through the malate-aspartate redox shuttle. During anaerobic conditions, where a buildup of excess of reducing equivalents inhibits glycolysis, malic acids simultaneous reduction to succinate and oxidation to oxaloacetate is capable of removing the accumulating reducing equivalents. This may allow malic acid to improve energy production in fibromyalgia, reversing the negative effect of the relative hypoxia that has been found in these patients. Because malic acid gives us energy, it helps fibromyalgia patients by giving them energy, which therefore helps alleviate their pain. Malic acid is very beneficial to health and fibromyalgia, but remember that before using malic acid, always consult with your doctor.