Can You Take Arginine with Malic Acid?

Research on lactic acid bacteria shows that arginine and malic acid interact in a way that could potentially form ethyl carbamate, a carcinogen. However, this interaction occurs in specific conditions related to wine fermentation and may not be directly relevant to human supplement use. In general, taking arginine and malic acid supplements together does not appear to pose significant risks. The interaction between arginine and malic acid involves the degradation of arginine by lactic acid bacteria, leading to the formation of citrulline, which can then be converted to ethyl carbamate. This process is more relevant to fermentation processes than to human physiology. The biochemical pathway involves the enzyme arginase, which catalyzes the conversion of arginine to ornithine and urea.