Definition of Fulvic Acid

Fulvic acid is a naturally occurring, biologically available mineral. It has the ability to transport nutrients and minerals to cells and to help cells digest minerals. Fulvic acid has a low molecular weight, so that it can bond to other elements and either help the body to absorb them (if they are useful) or help the body to excrete them. According to the site Fulvic.org, Fulvic can help bring 60 positive elements into the cells of the body. As a result of this property, Vital Earth claims that fulvic acid is the ultimate antioxidant substance. However, both Fulvic and Vital Earth are websites that sell and market this product, so these claims should be considered in light of the fact that they are marketing literature. Neither the FDA nor any medical board has endorsed the legitimacy of these claims. In fact, the FDA published a warning letter sent to the Life Long Learning Company, when the Life Long Learning company claimed that fulvic acid was a cure for flu, mandating that such marketing was illlegal and that fulvic acid should not be marketed as a cure without FDA approval.

History

• According to Vital Earth, centuries of decomposition of plants and animals have caused the transformation of important cellular DNA and minerals into other compounds, like gas and oil. This transformation prevents us from receiving certain vital organic compounds from the DNA of these plants and animals, which should be found in nature. However, Vital Earth claims that there is a spot in New Mexico where the DNA and organic compounds from these decomposed animals have been preserved by shale, so they are in their original organic form. This original organic form is fulvic acid, an essential compound that helps our bodies to absorb and make use of the vitamins and minerals we need to be healthy.

What Does It Do?

• Vital Earth suggests that fulvic acid has a multitude of beneficial properties. Fulvic acid can act as an antioxidant and rid the body of free radicals (toxic substances). It can chelate (process) toxins and help purge them from the system. It can help our body to absorb more nutrients, make cell membranes more permeable so individual cells can absorb more nutrients, increase the availability of nutrients to our bodies by helping the nutrients remain active longer, help our bodies metabolize proteins, act as an electrolyte, increase absorption of oxygen, and act as an antibiotic. Because of these myriad benefits, fulvic acid can allegedly help with fatigue, treat cuts or wounds, heal burns, cure athletes foot, fungi and other rashes, and treat poison ivy, or bug bites. These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA, and in fact the warning letter(s) regarding fulvic acid published on the FDA website seem to suggest that the FDA does not consider these claims to be valid.

Fulvics and Minerals

• Human cells in the body either absorb/accept minerals or reject them. However, Fulvic.org and Vital Earth both claim that when organic minerals, metals and other elements decompose and become part of fulvic acid, they become more available to cells than they normally are, and the body is able to absorb them with greater ease. As a result, these organic minerals are able to act as electrodes, aid in bio-reactions and cause bio-reactions to begin within the body, which can improve health. Again, these claims are not endorsed or substantiated by any government or medical body, and are made by websites that provide information about fulvic acid as a product they are selling.

Fulvic and Vitamins

• According to Vital Earth, fulvic acid helps the body to absorb the vitamins and minerals that it needs to be healthy. Vitamins and vitamin supplements can't improve health unless they are properly absorbed by the body. They can't be absorbed without the presence of mineral co-factors. Vital Earth suggests that fulvic acid can provide vital mineral co-factors, which aid in the absorption of vitamins and vitamin supplements.

Dosage

• Vital Earth recommends that fulvic acid be taken in liquid form. Consuming the mineral through a liquid dose is most effective because the absorption of the fulvic acid begins in the mouth and continues through the digestive track. As fulvic acid moves through the digestive tract, necessary minerals are absorbed from the fulvic acid, which the body can use to help absorb other nutrition and supplements.