Peer-reviewed publication · Humans · In the living system
A small trial of a topical fulvic acid cream for eczema reported a better investigator rating than placebo.
- Topical, applied to the skin
- Carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid
Against a placebo cream, only the investigator's overall rating favoured this topical fulvic acid; the other eczema measures improved in both groups and were not compared between them.
Gandy, Snyman and van Rensburg, 8 September 2011. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 4:145 to 148.
Scope, material and route
- Studied
- Volunteers over two years of age with diagnosed eczema; demographics not reported in the source
- Design
- Single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial
- Material
- Carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid, 3.5 percent in an emollient buffered to pH 4.8
- Route
- Topical, to affected skin
- Exposure
- Twice daily. Study exposure, not application guidance.
- Duration
- Four weeks
Study design
Participants
Randomised to fulvic acid cream or placebo emollient, twice daily for four weeks.
36 participantsRandomised. The tables show 18 per group and 17 for the fulvic acid participant rating; the text says two were excluded for other medication.
Between the groups
The treatment comparison.
- Investigator global response1.77 with fulvic acid against 2.94 with placebo, lower is better (P < 0.05)
Within each group
Not a treatment comparison.
- SeverityImproved with fulvic acid and with placebo
- ErythemaImproved with fulvic acid and with placebo
- Participant ratingImproved with fulvic acid and with placebo
More study details
- Research question
- Does a topical carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid improve eczema compared with a placebo emollient?
- Sample size
- 36 randomised; the tables show 18 per group (17 for the fulvic acid participant rating), while the text says two were excluded for concomitant medication
- Comparator
- Placebo emollient at the same pH
- Outcomes measured
- Investigator-rated severity, erythema, vesiculation, fissuring and scaling; investigator global response; participant visual analogue scale; safety blood tests
Findings
Researchers at the University of Pretoria randomised 36 people with eczema to a cream containing 3.5 percent carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid or a placebo emollient, applied twice daily for four weeks. The investigator's global rating of response was better with fulvic acid than with placebo. Severity, redness and the participants' own ratings improved within both groups; these measures were not compared between groups. The only reported side effect was a brief burning sensation. The authors call it a small exploratory study, and the randomisation and blinding methods are not described. The carbohydrate-derived material differs from humic and fulvic substances extracted from soil or lignite.
| Outcome | Comparison or result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Investigator global response (between groups) | 1.77 with fulvic acid against 2.94 with placebo, lower is better (P < 0.05) | Favoured fulvic acid |
| Severity (within groups) | Improved with fulvic acid (P < 0.0001) and with placebo (P = 0.0009) | Both groups improved; not compared between groups |
| Erythema (within groups) | Improved with fulvic acid (P = 0.0002) and with placebo (P = 0.0059) | Both groups improved; not compared between groups |
| Participant rating (within groups) | Improved with fulvic acid (P = 0.0005) and with placebo (P = 0.003) | Both groups improved |
| Safety | Blood counts, kidney and liver measures within normal limits; brief burning on application | No safety signal in this small trial |
Interpretation and limits
What this record supports
A better investigator global rating than placebo for this topical preparation over four weeks, in a small exploratory trial.
What remains uncertain
- Size and reporting. 36 people, with randomisation and blinding methods not described.
- Comparisons. Severity and redness were compared within groups, not between them.
- Route and material. A topical carbohydrate-derived preparation; the result does not transfer to oral use or to soil-derived humic and fulvic materials.
Which part of the framework it informs
Environmental conditions
The physical, chemical and management context.
Microbial activity
What microbial communities do within that context.
Observable function
What can be observed or measured in the host or wider system.
This record informs this area.
Source, funding and review
- Source type
- Peer-reviewed publication
- Associated products
- This record does not assess an associated product.
- Funding and relationships
- No funding source is stated in the article. The authors report no conflicts of interest.
- Review status
- Prepared as an editorial summary. External scientific review has not been completed.
- What was read
- Full text read through Europe PMC.
- Original title
- Randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid in topical treatment of eczema
- Authors
- Gandy JJ, Snyman JR, van Rensburg CEJ
- Publication
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 4:145 to 148, 8 September 2011
- DOI
- 10.2147/CCID.S23110
- Summary prepared by
- Carbon Biome Project
- Date added
- 19 October 2026
- Cite this summary
- Carbon Biome Project. A small trial of a topical fulvic acid cream for eczema reported a better investigator rating than placebo. Evidence library record, added 19 October 2026. carbonbiomeproject.com/evidence/gandy-2011-topical-fulvic-acid-eczema/
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