Summary
Malic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in apples, vegetables, and certain fruits. Dr. Berg outlines several health benefits, with a particular focus on its role in supporting kidney stones, gallstones, and fibromyalgia through its effects on bile flow.
Key Takeaways
- Malic acid is sourced naturally from apples, vegetables, and certain fruits
- It can reduce the size of kidney stones, though it does not fully dissolve them
- It may help with gallstones and bile sludge by thinning bile or increasing bile flow
- Its tart quality is a notable characteristic
- Dr. Berg theorizes that improvements seen in fibromyalgia patients using malic acid are actually driven by improved gallbladder function rather than a direct effect
- Irritation of the gallbladder can cause referred pain along the right shoulder and right side of the body
- Better gallbladder function improves absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids like omega-3, which have anti-inflammatory properties
Details
Kidney Stones
Malic acid has been noted to reduce the size of kidney stones, though it is not described as a complete solution for dissolving them entirely.
Gallstones and Bile Flow
Malic acid is suggested to work on gallbladder health by:
- Thinning bile or increasing bile flow
- Helping to address gallstone sludge
Dr. Berg connects sluggish or irritated gallbladder function to referred pain patterns, specifically along the right shoulder and right side of the body, suggesting that what may appear as musculoskeletal pain can have a gallbladder origin.
Fibromyalgia Connection
Rather than acting directly on fibromyalgia symptoms, Dr. Berg’s theory is that malic acid helps indirectly by:
- Improving gallbladder and bile function
- Enhancing absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- Supporting uptake of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce the inflammatory component of fibromyalgia symptoms
No specific dosages or protocols were mentioned in this video.