Basic Information About Sialic Acid

Sialic acid (SA), known scientifically as n-acetyl-neuraminic acid, is a naturally occurring carbohydrate. It was originally isolated from mucin in the submandibular gland, hence the name. Sialic acid is usually found in the form of oligosaccharides, glycolipids or glycoproteins. The brain has the highest amount of sialic acid in the human body. The amount of sialic acid in the gray matter of the brain is 15 times higher than that in the liver, lungs and other internal organs. The main food source of sialic acid is breast milk, which is also found in milk, eggs and cheese.

Its English name is N-Acetylneuraminic acid

More aliases: 5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonulosonic acid o-Sialic acid Galactononulosonic acid Lactaminic acid NANA N-Acetylsialic acid

Molecular formula: C11H19NO9

Molecular weight: 309.27