Comprehensive review examines citric acid's biological contributions and industrial uses, suggesting significant clinical implications.
Citric acid (2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid) represents a foundational organic tri-carboxylic acid vital to both endogenous aerobic metabolism and exogenous bio-industrial systems. This comprehensive review examines the multifaceted contributions of citric acid and its conjugate base, citrate, across biological domains. Endogenously, it dictates cell signaling, regulates enzymatic checkpoints, governs bone mineralization, and exhibits key antioxidant/anti-inflammatory competencies within neural and hepatic microenvironments. Exigently, citric acid is heavily utilized as a multifunctional pharmaceutical excipient, pH buffer, metal-ion chelator, and food preservative. This article coordinates findings across major clinical, biochemical, and animal trials to summarize its comprehensive physiological pathways, therapeutic benefits, and industrial landscape.
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Kailash Chandra and Neelam Purohit (2026) studied this question.
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