Re: How does fulvic acid affect the body?

Hi Laura,

I agree with your second sentence, which makes me tend to agree with the latter part of your first sentence.

The black water is black because of a mixture of humic and fulvic compounds, the partial decomposition of plant materials under low oxygen conditions, such as those found in peat bogs and swamps. These acids are mined from humic mines, processed and added to water. In some preparations, water is brewed though the humic material.

The composition of humic and fulvic compounds are complex mixtures of different acids of highly variable molecular weight. Fulvic acids have lower molecular weights and higher oxygen contents than humic acids, some of the simplest are shown for comparison below.

Fulvic Acid	Humic Acid

The relatively smaller fulvates are unique in that they are able to travel across cell membranes. The MSDS states that fulvic acid has a pH of 3.3, to be alkaline, the material must be titrated. Many researchers(cited below is the FDA) have determined that cadmium is chelated by fulvic acid and thus may have a limited pharmaceutical purpose.

Otherwise, the FDA has determined that fulvic acid is generally safe to drink.

Pseudoscience regarding the beneficial use of black water preparations in humans appears in the form of claims concerning a product. Regarding a website search for black water, noted were directives toward claims that it helped people to: “live longer; live better… give oxygen directly to muscle cells…give back the life force through bio-electrical potential.”

When claims are made that seem too good to be true, it may be prudent to exercise a healthy skepticism.

Thank you very much for your interesting question!
Peter E. Hughes, Ph.D.
Mad Scientist

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/95s0316/rpt0091_02_attachment_01.pdf
http://www.blackwaterdrink.com
http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/blackwater_market_digging_up_the_dirt_about_slick_desi g ner _beverages/
http://www.jhbiotech.com/MSDS%202004/Fulmax.pdf