What Is Ferulic Acid And How Does It Benefit Skin?
Ferulic acid is a compound found naturally in a number of foods, including oats, brown rice, whole wheat, pineapples, and peanuts. Known to possess antioxidant properties, it’s thought to enhance health and fight certain diseases when ingested. In addition, ferulic acid is sometimes used as a topical ingredient in skin-care products, especially those touted as anti-aging remedies.
Why Do People Use Ferulic Acid?
Ferulic acid is best known for its skin-care benefits.
When applied topically (i.e., directly to the skin), ferulic acid is said to treat sun damage and reverse signs of aging (such as fine lines and wrinkles).
Rich in antioxidants, ferulic acid in oral supplement form is said to enhance heart health, curb high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and help with the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Menopausal symptoms
- Osteoporosis
Ferulic acid is also purported to protect against cancer, aid in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, enhance exercise performance, and slow up the aging process.
The Benefits of Ferulic Acid
Clinical trials are currently lacking, with most of the findings on ferulic acid’s potential health benefits coming from animal-based research and laboratory experiments.
1) Skin Care
While relatively few studies have tested ferulic acid’s effects on skin, there’s some evidence that applying this it may have some protective effects.
In a small study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2008, for example, an experiment involving 10 healthy volunteers demonstrated that a topical antioxidant mixture consisting of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin (a compound found naturally in apples) helped shield skin from the harmful effects of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Additionally, a preliminary study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2005 found that a mixture of ferulic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E may help fight sun-induced damage to the skin by reducing oxidative stress.
2) High Blood Pressure
Ferulic acid may help lower blood pressure, according to a 2002 study from the American Journal of Hypertension. In tests on rats, scientists discovered that ferulic acid helped bring blood pressure down by promoting widening of the blood vessels.
In a more recent study (published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology in 2013), researchers observed that treatment with ferulic acid improved the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels, liver, and kidneys in rats with high blood pressure.
Related: Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure
3) Diabetes
A study published in Phytotherapy Research in 2004 indicates that ferulic acid may help with diabetes control. After treating diabetic rats with ferulic acid, the study’s authors found that the compound enhanced the animals’ antioxidant capacity and helped regulate their blood sugar levels.
In addition, a 2012 study from the European Journal of Pharmacology found that a combination of ferulic acid and resveratrol helped alleviate damage to the liver, kidney, and pancreas in diabetic mice, possibly by reducing inflammation.
Related: All-Natural Remedies for Diabetes
Caveats
Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of long-term or regular oral use of dietary supplements containing ferulic acid. It’s important to note that self-treating a chronic condition (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) with ferulic acid and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.
Where To Find It
Sold in some drugstores, skin-care products containing ferulic acid can also be purchased in specialty beauty stores.
Widely available for purchase online, dietary supplements containing ferulic acid are sold in natural-foods stores, drugstores, and stores specializing in natural products.
The Takeaway
While ferulic acid is widely used in topical skin care products, due to the limited research, it’s too soon to recommend ferulic acid supplements as a treatment for conditions like high blood pressure. To up your intake of ferulic acid in food, try eating foods naturally rich in ferulic acid, such as oats, brown rice, and pineapples.
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