Ferulic acid
Also called trans-ferulic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, rice bran ferulic acid, sodium ferulate.
Best grade C across 4 graded outcomes Other Last checked
The short answer
From 7 sourcesFerulic acid is a phenolic acid abundant in cereal grains. One 6-week Thai trial in 48 adults with high cholesterol found 1,000 mg/day lowered LDL cholesterol by 9.3% and inflammatory markers versus placebo. Oral skin data come from a 16-person company study. Its salt, sodium ferulate, induced a drug-metabolising enzyme in a human study. Evidence is limited.
Every graded outcome on this page
4 rows · line = participants- CGrade CClinical response in coronary heart disease (sodium ferulate added to standard drugs)Heart disease (drug form)n 3,207
- CGrade CRosacea lesions with topical ferulic acid added to doxycyclineSkinn 60
- CGrade CLDL, total cholesterol and triglyceridesCholesteroln 48
- DGrade DSkin barrier (water loss and hydration)Skinn 16
Key facts
- Cholesterol
- 1,000 mg/day for 6 weeks lowered total cholesterol 8.1%, LDL 9.3% and triglycerides 12.1%, and raised HDL 4.3%, versus placebo in 48 adults with high cholesterol1
- Inflammation markers
- In the same trial hs-CRP fell 32.7% and TNF-alpha 13.1% versus placebo1
- Skin (oral)
- 200 mg/day for 2 weeks reduced water loss through the skin from baseline in a 16-person pilot run by a consumer-goods company2
- Drug metabolism
- Two weeks of sodium ferulate induced CYP2B6 metabolism of the antidepressant bupropion in 33 healthy people, with the effect varying by genotype5
- Food sources
- Ferulic acid is the most abundant phenolic compound in vegetables and cereal grains1
What it is
Ferulic acid is a plant phenolic acid found in cereal bran and vegetables, sold as an oral supplement and used in topical skin serums.
How it works
ProposedFerulic acid is an antioxidant phenolic acid; laboratory and animal studies report lipid-lowering, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In the human cholesterol trial, the oxidative-stress marker MDA and oxidized LDL fell. Whether these effects explain the lipid changes is unproven.1
Forms, side by side
3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Ferulic acid forms compared
3 forms| 3 forms | Capsules (often from rice bran) | Sodium ferulate (drug salt) | Topical ferulic acid (solutions and serums) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | No absorption data in the cited abstracts.1 | Induced CYP2B6 drug metabolism after 14 days in healthy people.5 | Applied to skin; not a source of oral intake.4 |
| GI tolerance | No adverse effects reported in the cited abstracts at 200-1,000 mg/day for 2-6 weeks.12 | Adverse events were reported in only 6 of 36 trials in the meta-analysis.6 | Initial greasy feel; tingling and itching in one of 30 users.4 |
| Studied for | Cholesterol, skin barrier | Coronary heart disease (as a medicine in China) | Rosacea (with doxycycline); skin dullness (1% cream, exploratory split-face study led by a rice-bran ferulic acid maker, Tsuno Rice Fine Chemicals) |
- Ferulic acid capsules (often from rice bran)
- Absorption in people
- No absorption data in the cited abstracts.1
- Studied for
- Cholesterol, skin barrier
- Sodium ferulate (drug salt)
- Topical ferulic acid (solutions and serums)
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
4 graded outcomes, largest study firstAll 4 graded outcomes found an improvement. The largest, a 2023 meta-analysis of 3,207 people on clinical response in coronary heart disease (sodium ferulate added to standard drugs), found an improvement.
1Clinical response in coronary heart disease (sodium ferulate added to standard drugs)
Improved · Grade C · Meta-analysis, 3,207 people, 2023
Patients with coronary heart disease in Chinese randomized trials
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical response in coronary heart disease (sodium ferulate added to standard drugs) | Improved | 3,207 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2023 | Patients with coronary heart disease in Chinese randomized trials |
| Rosacea lesions with topical ferulic acid added to doxycycline | Improved | 60 | Grade C · RCT, 2025 | Chinese adults with mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea |
| LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides | Improved | 48 | Grade C · RCT, 2018 | Thai adults with high blood lipids |
| Skin barrier (water loss and hydration) | Improved | 16 | Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2023 | Healthy Japanese men |
Every graded row
4 rowsShowing 4 of 4 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CClinical response in coronary heart disease (sodium ferulate added to standard drugs)Heart disease (drug form)RR 1.21, low-quality evidenceMeta-analysis · 36 studies
n 3,207 · 2023
Improved Added to conventional drugs, sodium ferulate improved overall clinical effectiveness (RR 1.21) and several ECG, angina and inflammatory measures, but most outcomes were rated low or very low quality evidence.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 36 studies, n = 3,207, 2023
- Population
- Patients with coronary heart disease in Chinese randomized trials
- Form
- Sodium ferulate (a drug derivative of ferulic acid) plus conventional drugs
- Dose
- Varied by trial
- Duration
- Varied by trial
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 37116387 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CRosacea lesions with topical ferulic acid added to doxycyclineSkin80% vs 63% respondersRCT
n 60 · 2025
Improved Lesion and self-assessment scores improved more than with saline; overall response 80.0% vs 63.3%. One person reported tingling and itching; no serious adverse reactions.
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2025
- Population
- Chinese adults with mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea
- Form
- Topical ferulic acid solution vs saline, both with oral doxycycline
- Dose
- Applied twice daily (with doxycycline 0.1 g/day)
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 39413013 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CLDL, total cholesterol and triglyceridesCholesterolLDL -9.3% vs placeboRCT
n 48 · 2018
Improved Versus placebo: total cholesterol -8.1%, LDL -9.3%, triglycerides -12.1%, HDL +4.3%; oxidized LDL -7.1%, MDA -24.5%, hs-CRP -32.7% and TNF-alpha -13.1%.
- Design
- RCT, n = 48, 2018
- Population
- Thai adults with high blood lipids
- Form
- Ferulic acid capsules
- Dose
- 1,000 mg/day
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 29865227 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DSkin barrier (water loss and hydration)SkinLess water loss vs baselinePilot RCT
n 16 · 2023
Improved Transepidermal water loss fell from 6.1 to 4.8 g/m2/h and hydration rose from 30.1 to 32.3 units versus baseline; the change in sympathetic nerve activity differed from placebo.
- Design
- Pilot RCT, n = 16, 2023
- Population
- Healthy Japanese men
- Form
- Ferulic acid capsules
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 33973806 (opens PubMed)
Memory and brain health: animal studies only
1 note- Cognition (animal studies)
- A 2024 systematic review searched the literature through October 2023 and found no human studies of ferulic acid and cognitive function. All 26 eligible studies were in animals, most in dementia models, where ferulic acid lessened induced cognitive decline. Whether that applies to people is untested.7
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
One oral efficacy trial
The lipid results come from a single 48-person, 6-week trial; no independent replication was found.1
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Ferulic acid meets
1 cited rowMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Measured in a human study
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Drugs metabolised by CYP2B6
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Drugs metabolised by CYP2B6, for example Bupropion: Sodium ferulate taken for 14 days induced CYP2B6 hydroxylation of bupropion in healthy volunteers, with the size of the effect depending on PXR and CYP2B6 genotype. Whether ferulic acid supplements do the same is untested.
Source 5, PLoS One (2013)
Interactions
1 agent| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Drugs metabolised by CYP2B6e.g. Bupropion | Sodium ferulate taken for 14 days induced CYP2B6 hydroxylation of bupropion in healthy volunteers, with the size of the effect depending on PXR and CYP2B6 genotype. Whether ferulic acid supplements do the same is untested.5 | PK study |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Ferulic acid and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Ferulic acid.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
3 groups- People taking bupropion or other CYP2B6-metabolised drugs
- Sodium ferulate changed how the body processes bupropion in a human study; ask a pharmacist before combining.5
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The cited trials enrolled non-pregnant adults only, so there are no safety data for supplement doses in pregnancy or breastfeeding.12
- Sensitive skin (topical products)
- In a rosacea trial, topical ferulic acid caused a greasy feel at first and tingling and itching in one user.4
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksOral vs topical
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes ferulic acid help memory or brain health?
There is no human evidence. A 2024 systematic review found no human studies of ferulic acid and cognition; its 26 included studies were all in animals, mostly in dementia models.7
Does ferulic acid lower cholesterol?
In one 6-week trial of 48 adults with high cholesterol, 1,000 mg/day lowered LDL by 9.3% versus placebo. That has not been replicated.1
Does taking it by mouth help skin?
A 16-person, 2-week pilot run by a consumer-goods company found less water loss through the skin than at baseline. That is too small to judge.2
Is ferulic acid safe to take?
No one reported side effects in the 6-week, 1,000 mg/day cholesterol trial (48 people, per its full text); the 2-week skin pilot's abstract does not mention them. Both trials were small and short. Safety beyond 6 weeks, in pregnancy and with medicines is unstudied, and the drug salt sodium ferulate changed how bupropion is metabolised.125
Does ferulic acid interact with medicines?
Its salt, sodium ferulate, sped up the CYP2B6 metabolism of bupropion in a human study. Supplement capsules have not been tested for this.5
Is topical ferulic acid the same as the supplement?
No. Topical products act on the skin; a rosacea trial applied a ferulic acid solution alongside oral doxycycline. Oral and topical results should not be mixed.4
Sources
7 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
7 sources- 1Ferulic Acid Supplementation Improves Lipid Profiles, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Status in Hyperlipidemic Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.RCT Nutrients, 2018 · PMID 29865227
- 2Beneficial effects of oral supplementation with ferulic acid, a plant phenolic compound, on the human skin barrier in healthy men.Pilot RCT Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2023 · PMID 33973806
- 3Exploratory study on the effect of ferulic acid derived from rice bran on dull skin.Open-label trial Drug Discov Ther, 2026 · PMID 42324157
- 4Ferulic Acid in the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea: A Randomized Controlled Study.RCT J Cosmet Dermatol, 2025 · PMID 39413013
- 5Genetic Variants of Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and CYP2B6 Affect the Induction of Bupropion Hydroxylation by Sodium Ferulate.PK study PLoS One, 2013 · PMID 23840296
- 6The efficacy of sodium ferulate combination therapy in coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Phytomedicine, 2023 · PMID 37116387
- 7Effects of Ferulic Acid on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review.Systematic review Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024 · PMID 38342596
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence notes, FAQ, questions, related | Re-ran the PubMed search for ferulic acid trials and reviews (through October 2026): no new oral human trial or meta-analysis qualified for the table. Added a 2024 systematic review showing there are no human studies of ferulic acid and memory or cognition (animal studies only) as a research note. Replaced the FAQ item that repeated the page's own "What is" question with memory and safety answers, added page questions and goal-hub links. Checked LactMed, LiverTox, NCCIH and MedlinePlus: none has a ferulic acid entry, so the pregnancy note still rests on the trials' enrolment (no data) and the only interaction remains the sodium ferulate–bupropion study. Topical vitamin C/E/ferulic serum trials were not added (combination products). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record, none retracted) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.