"Brain Gold" and "Oriental Caviar" in Cosmeceuticals: What is Cabio's Sialic Aci

Since ancient times, there has been a tonic highly revered by the upper class: bird’s nest. It is said that among the over 30 dishes in Empress Cixi’s breakfast, seven included bird’s nest. In Dream of the Red Chamber, various recipes using bird’s nest with auxiliary ingredients—such as rock sugar bird’s nest congee and bird’s nest soup—are vividly described.

 

"Tonifying and beautifying" has become the synonym for bird’s nest, with its core functional component being sialic acid. Modern evaluations of bird’s nest quality are based on this bioactive ingredient. However, natural bird’s nest is difficult to harvest and relies on imports, limiting its wide application. With the rapid development of biotechnology, microbial fermentation has emerged as a cost-effective and scalable method for producing sialic acid.

 

Cabio, China’s first listed company on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board in the food biotechnology sector, is also the first domestic enterprise to obtain a production license for sialic acid and achieve large-scale production of high-purity sialic acid (>98%). In 2021, its sialic acid was approved as China’s first new cosmetic ingredient, becoming a cosmeceutical innovation—an edible nutrient applicable to skincare and beauty. Its functions were later expanded to anti-wrinkle and antioxidant effects, showing promising applications in infant formula, health foods, oral beauty, and other fields.

 

In 2023, China’s functional food market reached 352.3 billion yuan. As young consumers’ beauty needs evolve, the oral beauty market is expected to exceed 25.57 billion yuan by 2025. Sialic acid, with dual nutritional and cosmetic benefits, is witnessing rapidly growing demand. This article unveils the emerging functional ingredient sialic acid from the perspectives of definition, regulatory policies, functions, Cabio’s advantages, and applications.

 

A、What is Sialic Acid?

(a) Definition

Sialic acid, named for its rich content in bird's nest, is also found in human milk, cow's milk, and other substances. It is also known as N-acetylneuraminic acid or sialic acid (SA), and is one of the eight essential glyconutrients for the human body.

Since its discovery, sialic acid has been confirmed to participate in multiple physiological processes, offering health benefits such as promoting infant brain development, antiviral effects, skin whitening, and anti-aging. As an emerging functional ingredient, it is widely used in oral beauty products, functional foods, health foods, cosmetics, and personal care fields.

(b) Regulatory Policies

1. International

• In 2003, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia approved the labeling of sialic acid in nutrition labels.
• In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sialic acid for use in infant formula and general foods, granting it GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status.
• In 2017, the European Commission officially approved N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid as a novel food ingredient, specifying its usage in infant formula and other foods.
• Japan, Singapore, and other countries have also recognized sialic acid as a food ingredient.

2. China

• In 2017, sialic acid was approved as a new food ingredient by China's National Health Commission.
• In 2021, Zhongke Guanggu (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cabio) successfully registered sialic acid as a new cosmetic ingredient, making it a "cosmeceutical" innovation—an edible nutrient applicable to skincare and beauty.
• In 2022, Zhongke Guanggu's self-developed sialic acid was recognized by the National Health Commission as substantially equivalent, affirming its safety. The same year, the National Medical Products Administration approved expanded cosmetic functions: anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, skin protectant, and moisturizer.

B、Functions of Sialic Acid

(a) Promotes Brain Development

Sialic acid acts as a brain nutrient for cell membranes and synapses, enhancing memory and intellectual development. It increases the expression of learning-related genes in infants, making it critical for adding to maternal and infant formulas to ensure normal growth.

 

Additionally, sialic acid protects brain neurons. Enzyme extracts from sialic acid help prevent or delay the loss of neuronal structure/function, combating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s (PD), Alzheimer’s (AD), and Huntington’s (HD).

 

(b) Brightens Skin Tone and Anti-Aging

Studies show sialic acid collaborates with other whitening components to block melanin production and brighten skin. It also improves skin texture, strengthens the skin barrier, slows aging, and promotes collagen production, making it ideal for beauty and cosmetics.

 

(c) Other Functions

Reported bioactivities include anti-inflammatory, antiviral (against influenza), immune regulation, lipid-lowering, bone strength improvement, and hormonal balance. In gut health, it inhibits harmful bacteria and promotes probiotic growth, enhancing metabolism.

A 2024 Cabio patent also reveals sialic acid can reduce and inhibit weight gain, aiding in the fight against obesity and related complications.

 

C、Cabio's Sialic Acid Advantages

(a) Microbial Fermentation Technology

Traditional sialic acid production methods include enzymatic synthesis and whole-cell biocatalysis. Cabio utilizes microbial fermentation with complete independent intellectual property rights, using glucose or low-cost carbon sources to drastically reduce costs. This environmentally friendly, controllable process ensures stable, large-scale production. Cabio’s sialic acid achieves over 98% purity, guaranteeing safety and quality.

 

(b) Human Nutrition Applications

1. Market Landscape

China’s functional food market reached RMB 352.3 billion in 2023 (Forward Industry Research Institute), projected to exceed RMB 485.8 billion by 2029. In the infant formula sector, premiumization and differentiation demands are growing steadily, driving increasing attention to new functional food ingredients and health components—sialic acid stands out as one of the most sought-after ingredients.

2. Cabio Solutions

Cabio’s sialic acid is used in diverse products: probiotic solid beverages (e.g., By-Health Life-Space Platinum Probiotic), functional drinks (New Hope Dairy "Instant Glow"), whey protein powders, and infant formulas (Junlebao Xiaoxiaoluban, Qizhi Xiaoqicai). These enhance formulas to meet "breastmilk gold standards" and drive industry upgrades.

 

(c) Beauty and Personal Care

1. Market Trends

Driven by the "Beauty Economy" , oral beauty is booming, projected to exceed RMB 25.57 billion by 2025 (Euromonitor). "Whitening" and "anti-aging" are top consumer needs.

 

2. Cabio Solutions

As a cosmeceutical, sialic acid works internally (oral) and externally (topical). Oral studies show improved skin radiance, elasticity, hydration, and reduced sagging. It increases GSH-Px levels for overall health. Products include chewable tablets, effervescent tablets, oral liquids, and collaborations with brands like Yue-Sai, Chando, SNP, and Mageline for anti-aging, antioxidant, and anti-glycation skincare.

 

D、About Cabio

Founded in 2004 and listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board (688089) in 2019, Cabio is China’s first biotech company in the food sector to go public. Specializing in microbial synthesis, it provides high-quality nutrients and solutions for global nutrition and health markets.

 

With 179 authorized patents (163 Chinese invention patents as of June 2024), Cabio’s products include ARA, DHA, β-carotene, astaxanthin, sialic acid, and HMOs, serving infant formula, health food, animal nutrition, and personal care. It operates three international-standard production bases, supplies 500+ clients (Nestlé, Danone, Feihe, etc.), and is expanding R&D for lycopene, γ-PGA, and α-arbutin.

 

E、References

[1] Cabio, Zhongke Guanggu, YOUNGWOO & New Nutrition (2023). Sialic Acid Science and Market Application Whitepaper.
[2] Forward Industry Research Institute (2023). 2024 China Functional Food Industry Forecast.
[3] Wang B. (2009). Sialic acid in brain development.
[4] Food Research International (2012). Bird’s nest bioactivities.
[5] Wuhan Best Carry & Zhongke Guanggu (2021). Sialic acid whitening composition patent.
[6] Xu Liba (2018). Sialic acid in Alzheimer’s prevention.
[7] Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2021). Bird’s nest functional review.
[8] Archives of Dermatological Research (2024). Bird’s nest for skin benefits.
[9] Ibid. [7].
[10] Cabio (2020). Anti-wrinkle efficacy patent.
[11] Fang Su et al. (2024). Dietary sialic acid functions.
[12] Cabio (2024). Sialic acid for weight management patent.
[13] EarlyData (2023). China oral beauty e-commerce report.

 

Biotechnology nourishes life. Cabio empowers nutritional health and beauty.