Malic Acid Recommended As Effective Fibromyalgia Treatment
In a report in the December 1999 issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine, The American College of Physicians & American Society of Internal Medicine listed malic acid among the treatments recommended for fibromyalgia pain. The report was entitled
"Management of Fibromyalgia".
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine 1999; 850-858.
Doctors Views on Malic Acid and Magnesium
"Magnesium and malic acid are also critical. When malic acid and the other compounds are low, the body often has to shift to the very inefficient (anaerobic) means of generating energy. This contributes to the abnormal buildup of lactic acid that occurs after exercise in CFIDS/FM. This causes muscle achiness and
fatigue", Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, From Fatigued to Fantastic Newsletter and author of
From Fatigued to Fantastic, A manual for Moving Beyond Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
Jorge Flechas, M.D., M.PH., a FM and CFIDS specialist from Hendersonville, NC strongly recommends the combination of malic acid and magnesium for fibromyalgia and has utilized the combination on nearly 500 FM patients. He has also participated in 2 clinical studies that have tested these ingredients on fibromyalgia patients. In the studies, patients reported a significant reduction in pain and tenderness within 48 hours of taking the supplements.
Reference:
G.E. Abraham and J.D. Flechas,
Journal of Nutritional Medicine 1992; 3: 49-59.
Malic Acid & Magnesium
Malic acid, a fruit acid extracted from apples, plays a central role in the energy-producing reactions in the body. Malic acid is known to help the body produce energy more efficiently, even under conditions of low oxygen. Magnesium is a mineral that is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It is essential to the metabolic processes leading to the generation of cellular energy. It also functions as a natural muscle relaxant. Several studies have shown that those with fibromyalgia are deficient in magnesium.
Scientific evidence suggests that fibromyalgia and CFIDS symptoms are due at least in part to abnormal cellular metabolism. Mitochondria are the energy furnaces in cells that burn food for energy. Many findings and studies suggest that these structures are not operating efficiently in those with CFIDS/FM. In order for the mitochondria to produce ATP, several nutrients are required. These include magnesium, malic acid, NADH, sufficient levels of oxygen and active forms of B vitamins. Deficiencies or imbalances in these ingredients, which studies have show to exist in CFIDS and FM, can cause the body to switch from oxygen-based metabolism to the less efficient anaerobic metabolism. This contributes to an abnormal buildup of lactic acid following even light exertion. This lactic acid buildup results in fatigue, weakness, pain and muscle spasms.
A study in the Journal of Nutritional Medicine theorizes that deficiencies of oxygen and other nutrients can also cause the body to begin breaking down muscle tissue to use as fuel. According to the study this causes the muscle pain and fatigue seen in fibromyalgia. This theory is supported by data showing low muscle-tissue oxygen pressure in affected muscles of fibromyalgia patients as well as muscle biopsies from affected areas which show muscle tissue breakdown and mitochondrial damage. The study also presents data supporting a critical role for magnesium and malate (malic acid) in ATP production under aerobic and hypoxia conditions, and indirect evidence for magnesium and malate (malic acid) deficiency in FM.
Evidence shows that malic acid and magnesium can help to steer the body away from anaerobic metabolism and muscle tissue breakdown to the more efficient oxygen-based metabolism. Studies have shown that these nutrients address the metabolic abnormalities of CFIDS and fibromyalgia and can significantly improve symptoms.
Most doctors recommend starting slowly on the supplements and working up to 1200-2400 mg malic acid and 300 mg or more of magnesium per day. While some will experience a rapid response, others may take longer to respond. It is recommended that the supplements be taken for 4-6 weeks to see if they will be of benefit.
Related Product:
FibroActive
