What is another name for sialic acid?
Sialic acid is also known as N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). Sialic acids are a group of similar chemicals, with N-acetylneuraminic acid being the most frequent type found in human tissues and animals. Sialic acids are essential components of glycoproteins and glycolipids.
What foods contain sialic acid?
Sialic acid is a sugar molecule found in a variety of foods.
Foods rich in sialic acid include the following:
Milk: Both human and cow milk contain sialic acid, but human milk has a higher concentration of sialic acid.
Yogurt: Fermented dairy products like yogurt also contain sialic acid.
Cheese: All types of cheese provide sialic acid.
Red meat: Beef, pork, and lamb are good sources of sialic acid.
Poultry: Chicken and turkey contain sialic acid, especially in muscle tissue and organs.
Fish: Some fish, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, contain sialic acid.
Shellfish: Crustaceans and mollusks, such as shrimp and clams, also contain sialic acid.
Eggs: Both the yolk and white of eggs contain sialic acid, with the yolk containing a higher concentration.
Sialic acid plays a role in a variety of biological processes, including cell communication, immune function, and brain development. It is especially important for infants because it helps with cognitive development and gut health.
Supplements can be used for those who are deficient in sialic acid intake, especially when dietary sources are insufficient.
What is the benefit of acetylneuraminic acid?
1. The World Health Organization recommends that the mother's breast milk be the preferred nutritional source of sialic acid for infants. Most of the sialic acid in breast milk (67.6%~76.0%) is in the form of oligosaccharides, and 2.2%~3.6% is free sialic acid.
These sialylated human milk oligosaccharides and their derivatives, similar to the binding sites on cells, can act as receptor decoys to prevent gastrointestinal infections by blocking the interaction between pathogens and their receptors. Therefore, sialylated milk oligosaccharides can protect infants from infection with harmful microorganisms and contribute to the development of the infant's immune system.
Neurodevelopment: Sialic acid is essential for brain development and cognitive function, especially for infants. It is an important component of gangliosides in the brain and is involved in synaptic transmission and neurodevelopment.
2. Anti-inflammatory effects:
Mucosal protection: N-acetylneuraminic acid helps protect mucosal surfaces by forming a protective barrier against pathogens. It is found in mucus secretions of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts.
3. Therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications:
Drug delivery: Sialic acid derivatives are used in drug delivery systems to improve the targeting and efficacy of therapeutic drugs.
Biomarkers: Changes in sialylation patterns of glycoproteins can serve as biomarkers for certain diseases.
4. Nutritional supplements:
Infant formula: N-acetylneuraminic acid is sometimes added to infant formula to mimic the composition of human breast milk and promote infant development.
Dietary supplements: It can be taken as a dietary supplement for adults to support cognitive function.
Reference
[1]. Jahan M, Thomson P C, Wynn P C, et al. Red meat derived glycan, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a major sialic acid in different skeletal muscles and organs of nine animal species-A guideline for human consumers. Foods, 2023, 12(2): 337.
