Phenoxyacetic acid is found in cocoa and cocoa products. Phenoxyacetic acid is a flavouring ingredient. Phenoxyacetic acid is on the FDA list of approved food additives (PART 172 - FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION; Subpart F--Flavoring Agents and Related Substances Sec. 172.515 Synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants.). Research has shown that Phenoxyacetic acid induced hematopoietic cell proliferation, providing potential for oral therapeutics which stimulate proliferation of hematopoietic cells of multiple lineages, as well as inducing fetal globin, important for therapy of hemoglobinopathies.

3-Phenylpropionic acid (hydrocinnamic acid, HA) is an end-product of the bacterial degradation of unabsorbed phenylalanine in the intestinal lumen. HA is used in ice cream, drinks, and candy manufacture field as a flavoring agent. In recent years, HA is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Hydrocinnamic Acid inhibits the currents of WT and SQT3 syndrome-related mutants of Kir2.1 channel.

Butyric acid (butanoic acid) belongs to a group of short-chain fatty acids and is thought to play several beneficial roles in the gastrointestinal tract. The butyric anion is easily absorbed by enteric cells and used as a main source of energy. Moreover, butyric acid is an important regulator of colonocyte proliferation and apoptosis, gastrointestinal tract motility and bacterial microflora composition in addition to its involvement in many other processes including immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory activity. Butyric acid shows a protective effect in inflammatory response secondary to inflammatory bowel diseases. A beneficial effect of butyric acid as one constituent of a multifaceted mechanism modulating gastrointestinal function has also been stressed in patients with the stoma and coexisting constipation. Butyric acid supplementation combined with the use of probiotics should be adopted as one of the basic therapeutic strategies in this patient group, preceding treatment with laxatives. Sodium butyrate in the form of enemas (combined in a mixture with A-300 silicon dioxide) may be a successful method of therapeutic management in patients with radiation proctitis. Sodium butyrate may also prevent diarrhea through an increased passive absorption of water in the colon and its effects on the gut microflora.

Cinnamic acid is a polyphenol found in cinnamon oil and used in commercial flavorings. Recent studies have shown the pharmacological properties of cinnamic acid and its derivatives, including hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. In preclinical studies cinnamic acid demonstrated to be a promising candidate for the treatment ob obesity and diabetes. The mechanism of action of cinnamic acid in obesity is explained by its ability to inhibit lipases and ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). However, there are several hypotesis regarding the effect of cinnamic acid in diabetes: cinnamic acid enhances glucose-induced insulin secretion, prevents palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity, inhibits palmitic acid-induced alteration of lipogenic gene and protein expression (AMPK, SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC), inhibits DPP IV, exhibits an additive effect on the uptake of glucose, stimulates adiponectin secretion, etc.

L-Malic acid is a tart-tasting organic dicarboxylic acid that plays a role in many sour or tart foods. L-Malic acid is the naturally occurring form, whereas a mixture of L- and D-malic acid is produced synthetically. In humans, L-malic acid is both derived from food sources and synthesized in the body through the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle which takes place in the mitochondria. L-Malate's importance to the production of energy in the body during both aerobic and anaerobic conditions is well established. Under aerobic conditions, the oxidation of L-malate to oxaloacetate provides reducing equivalents to the mitochondria through the malate-aspartate redox shuttle. During anaerobic conditions, where a buildup of excess of reducing equivalents inhibits glycolysis, L-malic acid's simultaneous reduction to succinate and oxidation to oxaloacetate is capable of removing the accumulating reducing equivalents. This allows L-malic acid to reverse hypoxia's inhibition of glycolysis and energy production. In studies on rats it has been found that only tissue malate is depleted following exhaustive physical activity. Notably, the administration of malic acid to rats has been shown to elevate mitochondrial malate and increase mitochondrial respiration and energy production. L-Malic acid is the source of extreme tartness in United States-produced confectionery, the so-called extreme candy. It is also used with or in place of the less sour citric acid in sour sweets. These sweets are sometimes labeled with a warning stating that excessive consumption can cause irritation of the mouth. The quantitative determination of L-malic acid is especially important in the manufacture of wine, beer, bread, fruit and vegetable products, as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is one of the most important fruit acids, and has the highest concentration of all acids in wine. In the wine industry, the level of L-malic acid is monitored, along with L-lactic acid, during malolactic fermentation. Malic acid is approved for use as a food additive in the EU, US and Australia and New Zealand. Malic acid, when added to food products, is denoted by E number E296.

Lauric acid, or dodecanoic acid, is the main acid in coconut oil and in palm kernel oil, and is believed to have antimicrobial properties. The detected values of half maximal effective concentration (EC(50)) of lauric acid on P. acnes, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis growth indicate that P. acnes is the most sensitive to lauric acid among these bacteria. In addition, lauric acid did not induce cytotoxicity to human sebocytes. This data highlight the potential of using lauric acid as an alternative treatment for antibiotic therapy of acne vulgaris. Lauric acid is used in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and lauryl alcohol.

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring substance, which is a product of decarboxylation of the amino acid glutamate mediated by the synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase. GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain and acts mainly through the GABAA receptor (GABAAR). GABA is locally produced by the pancreatic beta cells. GABAARs are also expressed in various immune cells, including T-cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and are known to exert immune-inhibitory effects. Recently was studied, that GABA has the potential in treatment of Type I Diabetes. Moreover, was shown, that GABA administration could enhance immunity under stress conditions.