What is citric acid, and is it bad for You?
Since commercially made citric acid is sourced from Aspergillus niger, which is a known allergen, its safety is cause for concern. In a 2018 study published in Toxicology Reports, researchers found that citric acid may be linked to inflammatory symptoms, such as swelling, stiffness and abdominal pain.
What are the side effects of too much citric acid?
Some of the side effects associated with citric acid medicines or supplements include:
- Upset stomach
- Feeling weak or tired
- Lightheadedness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Numbness in the hands or feet
What is citric acid, and is it natural?
Citric acid is a weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in produce, and in particular, citrus fruits such as limes, oranges, and lemons. Citric acid is a naturally occurring antioxidant. People use it as a food flavoring and preservative, an ingredient in cosmetics, and a component in cleaning products.
How to use citric acid as a preservative?
Uses and Side Effects
- It is a natural preservative. Most common use of citric acid is as a preservative. ...
- Cleaning and chelating agent. Citric acid makes an excellent chelating agent. ...
- Water softener. One of Citric acid’s characteristic is that Citric acid is a weak organic acid. ...
- Cosmetics. ...
- Bath bombs. ...
- Cure kidney disorders. ...
- Household cleaner. ...
- Carpet cleaners. ...
See more
What does citric acid do to your body?
Citric acid helps you convert food energy into cellular energy via a process called... wait for it... the citric acid cycle. Along with its role in energy production, citric acid enhances calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium absorption through the gut.
Is citric acid harmful to humans?
The FDA says citric acid is "generally recognized as safe" in food and skin products.
Is citric acid a weak acid?
Citric acid is naturally concentrated in a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly lemons and limes. As with most organic acids, citric acid is a weak acid, with a pH level between 3 and 6.
Is citric acid OK to drink?
Wellness experts worry that ingesting or inhaling these on the reg can be problematic because mold and mycotoxins have been tied to respiratory issues, allergies, and even chronic illness. Dr. Vila warns that citric acid in beauty and cleaning products has the potential to be an irritant and trigger asthma symptoms.
Is citric acid carcinogenic?
Citric acid is not carcinogenic. If it would be carcinogenic, all our cells would be transferred to cancer cells, as citric acid is present in all cells near to the DNA (genetic code). Contrary, citric acid is one of the most safe additives that are being used in the food industry.
Can citric acid burn you?
Citric acid can be a minor skin irritant, causing itchy skin and even minor burns to those that are sensitive to it. Hands should be washed immediately if citric acid comes into contact with bare skin. Protective gloves should be worn during handling to avoid any accidental contact.
What is the pH of lemon juice?
about 2Lemon juice in its natural state is acidic with a pH of about 2, but once metabolized it actually becomes alkaline with a pH well above 7. So, outside the body, anyone can see that lemon juice is very acidic.
Why is citric acid so weak?
Citric acid is a weak acid because it has a very small amount of H + ions in its solution. It is actually a triprotic acid, meaning that it has three acidic hydrogen atoms in its structure. Citric acid is an organic acid. Most organic acids are weak acids.
Is lemon juice citric acid?
Lemon juice and lime juice are rich sources of citric acid, containing 1.44 and 1.38 g/oz, respectively. Lemon and lime juice concentrates contain 1.10 and 1.06 g/oz, respectively. The citric acid content of commercially available lemonade and other juice products varies widely, ranging from 0.03 to 0.22 g/oz.
Does citric acid burn belly fat?
According to Science Daily, citric acid is an antioxidant, which can help increase metabolism and burn more fat. Though there is no correlation between citric acid and weight loss, citrus fruits have been found to be helpful because of the natural antioxidants and fat-burning properties 2.
How long does citric acid last in the body?
An acid trip can last anywhere from 6 to 15 hours . Some lingering effects, referred to as “afterglow,” can last for another 6 hours after that.
What acid is there in Apple?
malic acidFruit acidity in cultivated apples is majorly determined by malic acid, which accounts for up to 90% of total organic acids [6].
Is citric acid Cleaner toxic?
It's safe to say that citric acid is considered safe and an exceptional alternative to conventional cleaners. It is effective, affordable and easy to find in many safer choice products.
Is citric acid a vinegar?
The most significant difference between lemon juice and vinegar is the type of acid. Lemon juice is on average five to six percent citric acid. Vinegar, on the other hand, is comprised of acetic acid.
Is citric acid OK for babies?
We are told to stay away from citrus fruits (such as oranges, pineapple, lemon et al) until baby is 10-12 months due mostly to the acidity of the fruit – diaper rash, skin rashes and tummy pains are some things that come from a sensitivity to citric acids – not due to any allergic reactions.
How do you remove citric acid from food?
You can use a strong base like NaOH (sodium hydroxide) to neutralize citric acid. If you do not have access to NaOH, something like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will also neutralize citric acid well.
Where does citric acid come from?
Citric acid is a compound originally derived from lemon juice. It’s produced today from a specific type of mold and used in a variety of applications.
What is manufactured citric acid?
Manufactured citric acid is one of the most common food additives in the world. It’s used to boost acidity, enhance flavor, and preserve ingredients ( 5 ). Sodas, juices, powdered beverages, candies, frozen foods, and some dairy products often contain manufactured citric acid.
What is citric acid used for?
). Citric acid is a versatile additive for food, beverages, medicines, and dietary supplements, as well as cleaning and disinfecting products.
Why is citric acid added to medicine?
Citric acid is an industrial staple in medicines and dietary supplements. It’s added to medicines to help stabilize and preserve the active ingredients and used to enhance or mask the taste of chewable and syrup-based medications ( 6 ).
How much citric acid is used in food?
Food and beverages use an estimated 70% of manufactured citric acid, pharmaceutical and dietary supplements use 20%, and the remaining 10% goes into cleaning agents ( 4 ).
Why is citric acid used in soft drinks?
Because of its acidic, sour-tasting nature, citric acid is predominantly used as a flavoring and preserving agent — especially in soft drinks and candies.
What is the compound that makes lemons odorless?
The odorless and colorless compound was produced from lemon juice until the early 1900s when researchers discovered that it could also be made from the black mold, Aspergillus niger, which creates citric acid when it feeds on sugar ( 1. Trusted Source.
What is the chemical formula for citric acid?
Chemical compound. Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC (CO 2 H) (CH 2 CO 2 H) 2. Usually encountered as a white solid, it is a weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits.
How much citric acid is produced every year?
More than two million tons of citric acid are manufactured every year. It is used widely as an acidifier, as a flavoring, and a chelating agent. A citrate is a derivative of citric acid; that is, the salts, esters, and the polyatomic anion found in solution.
How to prepare acid salts of citric acid?
Acid salts of citric acid can be prepared by careful adjustment of the pH before crystallizing the compound. See, for example, sodium citrate . The citrate ion forms complexes with metallic cations. The stability constants for the formation of these complexes are quite large because of the chelate effect.
What is the cid cycle?
Citrate is an intermediate in the TCA cycle ( aka T ri C arboxylic A cid cycle, or Krebs cycle, Szent-Györgyi ), a central metabolic pathway for animals, plants, and bacteria. Citrate synthase catalyzes the condensation of oxaloacetate with acetyl CoA to form citrate. Citrate then acts as the substrate for aconitase and is converted into aconitic acid. The cycle ends with regeneration of oxaloacetate. This series of chemical reactions is the source of two-thirds of the food-derived energy in higher organisms. Hans Adolf Krebs received the 1953 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery.
How is citric acid regenerated?
After the mold is filtered out of the resulting solution, citric acid is isolated by precipitating it with calcium hydroxide to yield calcium citrate salt, from which citric acid is regenerated by treatment with sulfuric acid, as in the direct extraction from citrus fruit juice.
What fruits have citric acid?
Lemons, oranges, limes, and other citrus fruits possess high concentrations of citric acid. Citric acid exists in a variety of fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus fruits. Lemons and limes have particularly high concentrations of the acid; it can constitute as much as 8% of the dry weight of these fruits (about 47 g/L in the juices ).
Where does citrate go in the body?
Citrate can be transported out of the mitochondria and into the cytoplasm, then broken down into acetyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis, and into oxaloacetate. Citrate is a positive modulator of this conversion, and allosterically regulates the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which is the regulating enzyme in the conversion of acetyl-CoA into malonyl-CoA (the commitment step in fatty acid synthesis). In short, citrate is transported into the cytoplasm, converted into acetyl CoA, which is then converted into malonyl CoA by acetyl CoA carboxylase, which is allosterically modulated by citrate.
What Is Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a common food additive and chemical that’s naturally found in citrus fruits and their juices. It’s considered a weak organic acid but not an essential vitamin or mineral because we don’t require it from our diets. It can either be naturally occurring, meaning the type found in plants, or man-made in a lab.
What happens if you eat citric acid?
What happens when you eat citric acid? It enters your bloodstream and eventually ends up in your urine, where it makes your urine less acidic. It also has been shown to have antioxidant, alkalizing and anti-inflammatory properties. That being said, it can be irritating to some people who have sensitive digestive systems, acid reflux, allergies or sensitive skin.
Why is citric acid used in supplements?
Because citric acid has a low pH, it is often used in dietary supplements and vitamins, since it can help with absorption of minerals and act as a preservative. Citric acid, potassium citrate or sodium citrate are medications that should be taken between or after meals to help prevent stomach or intestinal side effects.
Why do chefs use citric acid?
Lemon Juice. Chefs and bakers like adding citric acid to recipes for a variety of reasons — including because it adds a sour flavor and highlights other ingredients . As a natural acid, it can help to balance flavors and increase the appeal of certain ingredients.
How to make a natural cleaner with vinegar?
If you want to make a homemade natural cleaner with both concentrated lemon and white vinegar, mix the vinegar with water, add a few drops of lemon essential oil, and if you’d like, add some fresh lemon juice, orange peel and/or cinnamon. Lemon juice is considered highly acidic, with a pH of 2 up to 2.6.
How long does it take for citric acid to form?
Over the course of six to 15 days, citric acid is formed during fermentation. This process has been carried out since the 1920s, when microbial production of the acid on a commercial scale first begun. ( 2) As an organic acid, citric acid if a component of the tricarboxylic acid or Krebs cycle.
Which fruits have citric acid?
Other citrus fruits that provide citric acid include oranges, grapefruits and tangerines. To a lesser degree pineapple /pineapple juice and berries like strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cranberries contain citric acid.
What Is Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a weak acid that is found naturally in all citrus fruits. If you’ve ever sunk your teeth into a lemon, you've tasted citric acid. Manufacturers add a man-made version of it to processed foods. Medicines with citric acid in them treat health issues like kidney stones.
What foods contain citric acid?
Foods that are high in natural citric acid are citrus fruits, especially the juice of lemons and limes. Other fruits and vegetables also contain some natural citric acid. These foods have the highest amounts of naturally occurring citric acid: Lemons. Limes. Oranges.
Why is citric acid used in food?
It helps keep canned and jarred foods fresh over long periods of time. It can prevent some kinds of fresh-cut produce, like sliced apples, from turning brown. Citric acid can also help thicken foods or give them a slightly sour flavor.
What happens if you put citric acid in your eyes?
Citric acid may cause: Skin irritation. When it touches your skin for long periods of time, it can cause stinging, swelling, or hives. Eye pain . It will burn if it gets in your eyes. If this happens, flush them well with water for several minutes. If you wear contact lenses, take them out as soon as you can.
Does citric acid clean up nuclear waste?
Environmental cleanup products. Citric acid can safely remove toxins from polluted soil and even clean up nuclear waste.
Does citric acid kill viruses?
Disinfectants. Since citric acid kills some types of bacteria and viruses, you'll find it in insect sprays, products that kill fungus or algae, hand sanitizer, and even some tissues you use to blow your nose. Environmental cleanup products.
Does citric acid eat away hard water?
Household cleaners. Because citric acid can eat away at hard water buildup, you'll often see it in dishwasher detergent. Other household cleaners also include it as an ingredient since it can help remove stains and odors.
Overview
Chemical characteristics
Citric acid can be obtained as an anhydrous (water-free) form or as a monohydrate. The anhydrous form crystallizes from hot water, while the monohydrate forms when citric acid is crystallized from cold water. The monohydrate can be converted to the anhydrous form at about 78 °C. Citric acid also dissolves in absolute (anhydrous) ethanol (76 parts of citric acid per 100 p…
Natural occurrence and industrial production
Citric acid exists in a variety of fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus fruits. Lemons and limes have particularly high concentrations of the acid; it can constitute as much as 8% of the dry weight of these fruits (about 47 g/L in the juices ). The concentrations of citric acid in citrus fruits range from 0.005 mol/L for oranges and grapefruits to 0.30 mol/L in lemons and limes; these values va…
Biochemistry
Citrate is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, also known as the TCA (TriCarboxylic Acid) cycle or the Krebs cycle, a central metabolic pathway for animals, plants, and bacteria. Citrate synthase catalyzes the condensation of oxaloacetate with acetyl CoA to form citrate. Citrate then acts as the substrate for aconitase and is converted into aconitic acid. The cycle ends with regeneration of oxaloacetate. This series of chemical reactions is the source of two-thirds of the food-derived e…
Applications
Because it is one of the stronger edible acids, the dominant use of citric acid is as a flavoring and preservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks and candies. Within the European Union it is denoted by E number E330. Citrate salts of various metals are used to deliver those minerals in a biologically available form in many dietary supplements. Citric acid has 247 kcal per 100 g. In the Un…
Synthesis of other organic compounds
Citric acid is a versatile precursor to many other organic compounds. Dehydration routes give itaconic acid and its anhydride. Citraconic acid can be produced via thermal isomerization of itaconic acid anhydride. The required itaconic acid anhydride is obtained by dry distillation of citric acid. Aconitic acid can be synthesized by dehydration of citric acid using sulfuric acid:
(HO2CCH2)2C(OH)CO2H → HO2CCH=C(CO2H)CH2CO2H + H2O
Safety
Although a weak acid, exposure to pure citric acid can cause adverse effects. Inhalation may cause cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Over-ingestion may cause abdominal pain and sore throat. Exposure of concentrated solutions to skin and eyes can cause redness and pain. Long-term or repeated consumption may cause erosion of tooth enamel.
Compendial status
• British Pharmacopoeia
• Japanese Pharmacopoeia
What Is Citric acid?
Pros and Cons
- Is citric acid safe to consume? According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), citric acid is “classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful and classified as a low human health priority.” (3) The FDA gives it a “Food Additive Status” of “designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food.” The risks of consuming citric acid or applying it to your skin genera…
Risks and Side Effects
- Why might citric acid be harmful to the body? Overall, while there’s concern that artificial citric acid may have some negative health effects — especially when consumed in large amounts from packaged foods — there isn’ t clear evidence from large studies showing a connection between this acid and health concerns. However, the following side effects may occur. 1. May Irritate Ski…
Foods
- Which foods and beverages provide the most citric acid? It is most concentrated in: 1. Citrus fruits and juices — especially lemons and limes and their juices 2. Other citrus fruits that provide citric acid include oranges, grapefruitsand tangerines 3. To a lesser degree pineapple/pineapple juice and berries like strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cranberries contain citric acid The v…
Uses in Traditional Medicine
- What is citric acid used for in traditional systems of medicine? In Ayurveda, acidic foods (like lemon, lime, garlic, vinegar, sour cream, yogurt and fermented foods) and substances are said to be “Pitta-aggravating foods,” meaning they can irritate the stomach when eaten in high amounts, but they also balance Vata dosha. This is why it’s recommended that some people limit intake of…
Citric Acid vs. Ascorbic Acid vs. Malic Acid vs. Phosphoric Acid
- The sour taste of certain foods tends to be the result of acids, such as citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid.
- Ascorbic acid, another name for vitamin C, is another nutrient found in citrus fruits and green vegetables. It’s been shown to have antioxidant effects and to be protective of eyes, skin, blood ves...
- The sour taste of certain foods tends to be the result of acids, such as citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid.
- Ascorbic acid, another name for vitamin C, is another nutrient found in citrus fruits and green vegetables. It’s been shown to have antioxidant effects and to be protective of eyes, skin, blood ves...
- Like citric acid, malic acid is sour and used as a flavoring agent to give food a tart taste, plus as a preservative. It’s naturally occurring in some fruits and also wine. Malic acid is used in sk...
- Phosphoric acid is used to give soft drinks a tangy flavor and to preservative foods/drinks by preventing the growth of mold and bacteria. This compound can be found in cola beverages, …
Citric Acid vs. Vinegar vs. Lemon Juice
- Chefs and bakers like adding citric acid to recipes for a variety of reasons — including because it adds a sour flavor and highlights other ingredients. As a natural acid, it can help to balance flavors and increase the appeal of certain ingredients. According to an Epicurious article, acid is considered a “core element of balanced flavors (alongside, sweet, salty, bitter, and umami), so it’…
Where to Find
- So what’s the bottom line when it comes to the risks and benefits of consuming citric acid? Overall, aim to reduce your intake from packaged and processed foods. You should also plan to increase consumption of natural citric acid from antioxidant-rich foodslike lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges. Can you make citric acid at home? Citric acid powder (used in cooking) …
Recipes and Alternatives
- Here are ways you can naturally start consuming more citric acid (especially from lemon and lime juice, the best natural sources): 1. Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice directly into water, herbal tea, smoothies, diluted fruit juice, vegetable juices, tea, etc. You can also squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice into ice cube trays before freezing. This way you have cold juice cubes on hand to add to w…
Supplements, Medications and Dosages
- Because citric acid has a low pH, it is often used in dietary supplements and vitamins, since it can help with absorption of minerals and act as a preservative. Citric acid, potassium citrate or sodium citrate are medications that should be taken between or after meals to help prevent stomach or intestinal side effects. If taking citrate in liquid form, it should be mixed with at leas…