Endurance
Malic Acid
Malic acid is a flavor acid and metabolism intermediate with no human evidence for standalone exercise benefit.
How it counts: Not part of the score
We show it on the label and count it as disclosed, but it never affects Dose, any sub-score or the grade. The basis below explains why.
- Clinical dose
- No established clinical dose
- Safety ceiling
- —
- Evidence
- weak
- Category
- Endurance
Evidence summary
Research confidence: low
No reference dose. Malic acid is the tart acid in apples and a common flavoring acid in drink powders; it is also an intermediate in the body's energy metabolism. We found no human study testing malic acid on its own for exercise performance: the ergogenic idea comes from citrulline malate, and a 2021 review found no study showing that the malate part works during exercise. The 1,500 mg on labels is in line with its normal use as a flavor acid.
Research sources
- A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance (Gough et al., Eur J Appl Physiol 2021)(opens in new window)
- Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with Super Malic: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study (Russell et al., J Rheumatol 1995)(opens in new window)
24 fibromyalgia patients, 1200 mg malic acid + 300 mg magnesium a day for 4 weeks: no clear effect vs placebo; improvements appeared only in the open-label higher-dose phase. Not an exercise study.
- 21 CFR 184.1069 Malic acid (US FDA, GRAS)(opens in new window)
Malic acid is affirmed GRAS as a flavor enhancer, flavoring agent and pH-control agent (acidulant) in food.