Citric acid

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Body fat in overweight adults²

  In people with high body fat, drinking tea with citric acid and other ingredients was linked to less body fat.

• Open question

  Iron absorption from toddler milk³

  In 15 women, iron in toddler milk with citric acid was absorbed about 20%, more than from fortified cow's milk.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Iron absorption from food⁶

  In lab studies, citric acid helped iron from blood clam proteins get taken up by cells.

• Concern

  Tooth enamel erosion⁷

  In lab studies, citric acid soft drinks softened tooth enamel, but some added food polymers seemed to form a protective layer.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Food industry uses⁴

  Citric acid is used widely in food and other industries, and scientists say much about it is still unexplored.

• Concern

  Iron levels in the body⁵

  Citric acid may help the body take in too much iron, which some scientists link to heart disease and diabetes.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 1973

  No daily limit needed (“ADI not specified”, JECFA’s term for very low toxicity).