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What Exactly Is Fulvic Acid?
Fulvic acid (FvA) is formed when microbes in the soil break down old plant material, says Robin Foroutan, RDN, an integrative medicine dietitian in Queens, New York, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “It’s high in plant-derived minerals, carbon molecules, and antioxidants,” says Foroutan. It is often offered in combination with humic acids, such as the drops used by Jenner, as it works as a “binder,” she explains. Jackie Newgent, RDN, a plant-forward culinary nutritionist in New York City and author of The Clean & Simple Diabetes Cookbook, adds that the class of naturally occurring compounds can be created from the degradation of animals. Fulvic acid is a substance found historically as part of traditional medicine systems, like Aryuveda, plant medicines, and complementary remedies, as research has noted. It is also used by some functional medicine practitioners as a supplement. Many chronic diseases, like diabetes, can potentially be worsened by unhealthy, mineral-deficient diets, so healing the gut through healthy nutrition and supplements like fulvic acid may have promise, as a review published in September 2018 in the Journal of Diabetes Research noted, and may encourage further research in this area. Fulvic acid may help increase the number of good bacteria and restore gut bacteria to healthy levels, those study authors suggested. In her functional medicine practice, Foroutan recommends fulvic acid to some of her patients, including those who are concerned with an imbalanced gut microbiome, which is the collection of bacteria in the gut, as research published in January 2016 in Current Opinions in Gastroenterology noted. “Depending on the specific formulation, these compounds are believed to bind to specific toxins, like endotoxins in the gut or heavy metals in the body, to prevent their reabsorption and aid elimination. It’s very gentle and safe for most,” Foroutan says. The brand that Jenner uses claims their fulvic and humic acid drops are effective in “replenishing any lost minerals for stamina and strength,” and supporting muscles and skin “at the cellular level,” though there is no specific scientific evidence to support those claims using the specific formulation of fulvic acid she is using. RELATED: Signs of 7 Common Nutrient Deficiencies
What Does Scientific Research Say About Fulvic Acid?
So far, studies on the ingredient — including those in the aforementioned Journal of Diabetes Research review — have limited and mixed results. In particular, Gary Soffer, MD, an integrative medicine physician at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, points out that almost all studies on fulvic acid have been performed in laboratory settings and not in people. The review cites research that found fulvic acid may help fend off ulcers by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, but, Newgent says, “there’s not enough research yet to state that convincingly.” Inflammation is the body’s natural defense system against illness and infection, according to Harvard Medical School. Acute inflammation occurs in response to an infection or injury, such as a swollen cut on your finger, but chronic inflammation can create health problems. Previous research has shown inflammation is directly related to conditions such as asthma, allergies, and eczema, along with many other disorders that are characterized by overactive immune cells. Meanwhile, oxidative damage, or oxidative stress, refers to an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in the body, according to past research. Oxidative stress is associated with chronic health conditions, too. The aforementioned Journal of Diabetes Research review suggests fulvic acid may support immunity by decreasing proinflammatory markers. Therefore, fulvic acid may be effective in treating health issues associated with inflammation, in addition to diabetes, those researchers have hypothesized. What is currently known is that “in lab studies, but not in people, fulvic acid may both suppress and activate different parts of the immune system by acting on both the immune cells and the chemical signals that cells send to each other,” explains Dr. Soffer. Yet both Newgent and Soffer note that fulvic acid may also have the opposite effect. “Since our immune system can work for us, as in the case of infections, or against us, as in the case of autoimmune diseases, it is unclear if this effect from fulvic acid is helpful or harmful to the body,” Soffer explains. Separately, another previous study found that fulvic acid may interfere with tau aggregation, aka the clumping of proteins that can accelerate brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s. “While fulvic acid has been shown to interfere with the aggregation of tau protein, an important player in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, this has only been demonstrated in lab settings,” explains Soffer. It’s also unknown if fulvic acid can cross the very tight barrier between the brain and the blood in humans to alter the trajectory of this disease. “What is also unknown is the amount of fulvic acid that would be required to have any meaningful impact,” he adds. Last, there have been some exploratory studies on shilajit, a viscous substance derived from mountain rocks, which is used in ayurvedic medicine and contains fulvic acid, per a past article. These studies suggest it may play a role in muscle function and skin blood flow. The studies involved standardized purified formulations of fulvic acid. The former randomized controlled trial, which was published in February 2019 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that taking high doses of Shilajit for eight weeks improved muscle and connective tissue adaptations. But the study was small, involving about 63 physically active men, and took place over the course of eight weeks. The other study on shilajit was also a randomized controlled trial, and researchers published their findings in August 2019 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. They found that taking higher doses of it may improve skin perfusion, which aids in the growth of blood vessels. “These two studies on shilajit, while promising, are very small and one was performed exclusively in active men,” explains Soffer. “Shilajit is a compound used for thousands of years in Ayurveda that contains a number of substances beyond fulvic acid. It is far too early in the research to make any definitive conclusions about shilajit, let alone fulvic acid specifically.” Overall, more studies on the effects of fulvic acid in humans are needed. RELATED: Can Drinking Lettuce Water Actually Help You Sleep?
Are There Any Health Risks to Using Fulvic Acid?
There aren’t any major known side effects to using fulvic acid, and early safety testing in a small number of studies for short-term use have not shown harm. At the same time, there also is a lack of research on them. For instance, due to contradictory findings in terms of inflammation, there’s a possibility that fulvic acid “may not be as beneficial for the immune system or reduction of allergy symptoms as you might think,” Newgent explains. “Since FvA may increase drug and nutrient absorption, there’s a concern that it may possibly increase absorption of toxins and pollutants, too,” she says, citing a study published in September 2018 the Journal of Diabetes Research. Soffer adds that fulvic acid may cause some side effects, as noted in previous research in animals. These include diarrhea, headache, and sore throat. “There are also theoretical risks for autoimmune disorders given the stimulation of B-cells, which play a role in the development of autoimmunity,” he says. RELATED: Why Experts Are Warning Against Dry Scooping, a TikTok Trend
Should You Add Fulvic Acid to Your Water?
“At this time, I would not suggest taking this supplement,” says Soffer, adding that there haven’t been enough rigorous long-term studies conducted in humans on fulvic acid. “Just because FvA is ‘natural’ — or a beautiful celebrity is doing it — doesn’t mean it’s safe, effective, or right for you,” she says, strongly urging anyone considering fulvic acid to speak with their medical practitioner first. This is an evolving field, so if you’re interested, keep track of the updates in the clinical research.
