Citric acid enhances the bioavailability of minerals, allowing your body to better absorb them ( 12, 13, 14). Citric acid — in the form of potassium citrate — prevents new kidney stone formation and breaks apart those already formed ( 20, 21, 22). Martin Lewis: What the Autumn Statement means for you – including wages, benefits, pensions, ISAs, national insurance and more Wiria MSS, Tran HM, Nguyen PHB, et al. Relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetic comparison of calcium glucoheptonate with calcium carbonate. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020;8(2). doi:10.1002/prp2.589 Autumn Statement: Workers to pay less in national insurance – but rate cuts don't offset the freezing of personal tax thresholds

For example, calcium citrate doesn’t require stomach acid for absorption. It also has fewer side effects — such as gas, bloating, or constipation — than another form called calcium carbonate ( 15, 16). No scientific studies exist investigating the safety of manufactured citric acid when consumed in large amounts for long periods. Sodas, juices, powdered beverages, candies, frozen foods, and some dairy products often contain manufactured citric acid. The citric acid listed in the ingredients of foods and supplements is manufactured — not what’s naturally found in citrus fruits ( 4).Beverages or food products that contain these fruits — such as ketchup in the case of tomatoes — also contain citric acid.

Mineral supplements, such as magnesium and calcium, may also contain citric acid (in the form of citrate) to enhance absorption. Disinfecting and cleaning Sweis IE, Cressey BC. Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in eliciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: a series of four case reports. Toxicology Reports. 2018;5:808-812. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.08.002 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). Food industry A test-tube study showed that it may treat or prevent human norovirus, a leading cause of foodborne illness ( 10).Tang SC, Yang JH. Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4):863. doi:10.3390/molecules23040863 Cairns TC, Nai C, Meyer V. How a fungus shapes biotechnology: 100 years of Aspergillus niger research. Fungal Biology and Biotechnology. 2018;5(1):13. doi:10.1186/s40694-018-0054-5 Manufactured citric acid is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ( 5). This is because producing this additive from citrus fruits is too expensive, and the demand far exceeds the supply. Summary Autumn Statement: State pension confirmed to rise by 8.5% from April 2024 – while some benefits will go up by 6.7%

Citric acid is commercially sold as a general disinfectant and cleaning agent for removing soap scum, hard water stains, lime, and rust. These same symptoms were not observed in people consuming natural forms of the acid, such as lemons and limes. Also known as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) or Krebs cycle, these chemical reactions in your body help transform food into usable energy ( 11). It’s viewed as a safer alternative to conventional disinfectant and cleaning products, such as quat and chlorine bleach ( 1). Summary NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Ulster Bank, which are all part of the NatWest Group, will now shut at least 172 of their bank branches in 2023 and 2024.

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Ciriminna R, Meneguzzo F, Delisi R, Pagliaro M. Citric acid: emerging applications of key biotechnology industrial product. Chemistry Central Journal. 2017;11(1):22. doi:10.1186/s13065-017-0251-y