01Markers · B vitamins
MMA
Methylmalonic acid
A compound that builds up when the body lacks the vitamin B12 needed to convert it. It is measured in blood or urine.
- Measured in
- Blood (serum) or urine
- Units
- nmol/L, µmol/L
- L-carnitine
- Berberine
- Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
- Taurine
- Finnish sauna
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- HIIT
- Iron
- NAC
- Zone 2 cardio
- Ashwagandha
- Red yeast rice
- Collagen
- Creatine
- L-theanine
- Lion's mane
- Magnesium
- Melatonin
- Milk thistle
- NAD+
- Omega-3
- PQQ
- Resveratrol
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K2
AWhat moves MMA
13 of 27 studied
In human studies, 5 of the 27 supplements and practices researched so far lowered MMA. 8 showed no change. 14 were never studied for it.
Moves it5
Human studies found a change. The grade reflects the studies behind it, from A (strongest) to D.
L-carnitineLowersGrade A
L-carnitine lowers MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 15 studies linked
10 studies; MMA is a B12 functional marker. No direct carnitine interaction.
- Effect of l-Carnitine Supplementation on Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. (2024)
- Therapeutic potential of L-carnitine in coronary artery disease: a systematic review. (2026)
- L-Carnitine and synbiotic co-supplementation: beneficial effects on metabolic-endotoxemia, meta-inflammation, and oxidative-stress biomarkers in obese patients: a double blind, randomized, controlled (2023)
- A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Moisturizer Containing Licochalcone A, Decanediol, L-Carnitine, and Salicylic Acid for Prevention of Acne Relapse in Asian Pop (2020)
- Acne treatment efficacy of intense pulsed light photodynamic therapy with topical licochalcone A, l-carnitine, and decanediol: A spilt-face, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. (2020)
- Effect of Vegan Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Carnitine- and Choline-Derived Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Production and Vascular Inflammation in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome. (2018)
- +9 more studies
BerberineLowersGrade A
Berberine lowers MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 11 studies linked
- Exploration of Berberine Against Ulcerative Colitis via TLR4/NF-κB/HIF-1α Pathway by Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation. (2024)
- Neuroprotective Effect and Possible Mechanisms of Berberine in Diabetes-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies. (2022)
- Berberine for diarrhea in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2020)
- Berberine can be a Potential Therapeutic Agent in Treatment of Huntington's Disease: A Proposed Mechanistic Insight. (2025)
- Berberine Effects in Pre-Fibrotic Stages of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Clinical and Pre-Clinical Overview and Systematic Review of the Literature. (2024)
- Berberine attenuates sunitinib-induced cardiac dysfunction by normalizing calcium regulation disorder via SGK1 activation. (2023)
- +5 more studies
Ubiquinol (CoQ10)LowersGrade A
Ubiquinol (CoQ10) lowers MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 9 studies linked
- Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Improves Adipokine Levels and Alleviates Inflammation and Lipid Peroxidation in Conditions of Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2020)
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2017)
- Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on Markers of Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2017)
- Effects of Ubiquinol and/or D-ribose in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. (2022)
- Beneficial Effect of Ubiquinol on Hematological and Inflammatory Signaling during Exercise. (2020)
- Ubiquinol Effects on Antiphospholipid Syndrome Prothrombotic Profile: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. (2017)
- +3 more studies
TaurineLowersGrade B
Taurine lowers MMA.
Human trials · 7 studies linked
1 corpus study. Thin.
- Mechanism of taurine reducing inflammation and organ injury in sepsis mice. (2022)
- Effect of the topical use of the antioxidant taurine on the two basement membrane proteins of regenerating oral gingival epithelium. (2012)
- The antiendotoxin agent taurolidine potentially reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury through its metabolite taurine. (2010)
- Tolerability of N-chlorotaurine in the bovine mammary gland. (2008)
- Topical taurine bromamine, a new candidate in the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris: a pilot study. (2008)
- Acute otitis externa: efficacy and tolerability of N-chlorotaurine, a novel endogenous antiseptic agent. (2004)
- +1 more studies
Finnish saunaLowersGrade B
Finnish sauna lowers MMA.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Studied, no change8
Studies looked and found no meaningful change. That is a result, not missing data.
ZincNo changeGrade A
Studies of Zinc found no change in MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 21 studies linked
Only 3 corpus studies; no zinc-specific MMA data. MMA as B12 functional marker not expected to be altered by zinc.
- A novel zinc metabolism-related gene signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma. (2023)
- Topical Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Formulations for Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical and Early-Phase Clinical Evidence. (2025)
- The Combined Use of Hydroxymethylbutyrate and Branched-Chain Amino Acids to Counteract Uremic Sarcopenia. (2026)
- Impacts of a Homestead Food Production Intervention on Anaemia and Micronutrient Deficiencies Among Women and Children in Rural Bangladesh: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. (2025)
- Zinc Supplementation, Inflammation, and Gut Integrity Markers in HIV Infection: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial (2025)
- Effects of a stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on clinical, immunomodulatory, and microbial outcomes in a human experimental gingivitis model. (2024)
- +15 more studies
Vitamin CNo changeGrade A
Studies of Vitamin C found no change in MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 19 studies linked
7 studies. Evidence gap.
- Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Vitamin C Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review. (2026)
- The effectiveness of vitamin C in dental alveolus healing after dental extraction: A scoping review. (2025)
- Dietary supplementations to mitigate the cardiopulmonary effects of air pollution toxicity: A systematic review of clinical trials. (2024)
- Protective role of nigella sativa oil and vitamins C and E against aflatoxin M (2025)
- Comparing UV and Diesel Cutaneous Damage and Evaluating the Protective Role of a Topical Antioxidant Mixture Containing Vitamin C, E and Ferulic Acid. (2025)
- Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Serum Containing Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C, and Hydroxy Acid Compared to 4% Hydroquinone in the Management of Melasma. (2025)
- +13 more studies
HIITNo changeGrade A
Studies of HIIT found no change in MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 11 studies linked
- Effects of Acute Exercise and 12-Week High-Intensity Interval Training on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (2026)
- Regular Cold-Water Immersion Following HIIT Does Not Affect Intramuscular Adaptation Markers, Inflammatory Profile or Endurance Performance. (2026)
- Effects of resistance-based training and polyphenol supplementation on physical function, metabolism, and inflammation in aging individuals. (2026)
- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of HIIT in Individuals with Long COVID: Insights into the Potential Role of (2025)
- HIIT and MICT mitigate endothelial dysfunction in early atherosclerotic mice via PCSK9 inhibition (2025)
- Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on neural dynamics and firing in the CA1-MEC region of mice (2024)
- +5 more studies
IronNo changeGrade A
Studies of Iron found no change in MMA.
Human trials · 10 studies linked
MMA (methylmalonic acid) is a B12 functional marker. No effect from iron supplementation expected.
- Daily oral iron supplementation produced greater improvements in hematological parameters than alternate day doses - A pilot double-blind randomized control trial in iron-deficient young women. (2026)
- Anemia From Inflammation After Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Relationships With Outcome. (2024)
- Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose for iron repletion following acute heart failure in patients with and without diabetes: a subgroup analysis of the randomized AFFIRM-AHF trial. (2023)
- Analysis of oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial function following intravenous iron in chronic kidney disease in the Iron and Heart Trial. (2022)
- The effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on health-related quality of life in iron-deficient patients with acute heart failure: the results of the AFFIRM-AHF study. (2021)
- Stable iron ( (2024)
- +4 more studies
NACNo changeGrade A
Studies of NAC found no change in MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · Negligible effect · 10 studies linked
- G protein-dependent dopamine D2 receptor signaling mediates cocaine-primed reinstatement. (2026)
- Additive Effects of Glutathione in Improving Antibiotic Efficacy in HIV- (2025)
- Magnetic resonance spectroscopy biomarkers of anti-inflammatory interventions in mood disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials (2025)
- A review of antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in addressing polycystic ovary syndrome. (2024)
- New Approach Combination-Dosed Therapy for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Versus Vitamin E: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (2025)
- Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: (2023)
- +4 more studies
Zone 2 cardioNo changeGrade A
Studies of Zone 2 cardio found no change in MMA.
Meta-analysis or review · 3 studies linked
- High-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on patient quality of life in cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2023)
- Effectiveness of Exercise Training on Male Factor Infertility: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2022)
- Long term efficacy and safety of MICT of cardiopulmonary function in patients after TAVR extended follow up of ENERGY study (2025)
AshwagandhaNo changeGrade B
Studies of Ashwagandha found no change in MMA.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Red yeast riceNo changeGrade B
Studies of Red yeast rice found no change in MMA.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Not studied14
No usable human study has measured MMA with these. A gap is not a negative result: nobody has looked.
CollagenCreatineL-theanineLion's maneMagnesiumMelatoninMilk thistleNAD+Omega-3PQQResveratrolVitamin D3Vitamin EVitamin K2