Sodium hyaluronate (commonly known as “hyaluronic acid”) has been approved to be used in ordinary food for more than a year. Many brands have set foot in hyaluronic acid food, among which hyaluronic acid beverage is the most common. In addition to leading hyaluronic acid enterprises Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) , Wahaha, Yineng and other brands have also launched relevant products.
Recently, the China Food Industry Association took the lead in issuing the group standard for sodium hyaluronate drinks (Draft for comments) and solicited comments from the industry. The draft suggests that the content of sodium hyaluronate added to the drink is 0.1-0.2g/kg (packaging specification: 50ml-500ml). If there is no written requirement for the content of uric acid in the drink, it will be added with the “magic acid” temporarily. However, in the view of experts, hyaluronic acid drinks are “no big difference” from ordinary mineral water, which is more a marketing gimmick.
Sodium Hyaluronate content specified in group standard
In 2021, China entered the era of “localization of hyaluronic acid food”. On January 7, 2021, the National Health Commission approved the request for sodium hyaluronate declared by Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) as a new food raw material and allowed it to be added to ordinary food. The scope of application includes dairy and dairy products, beverages, alcohol, cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products (including cocoa butter chocolate and products), candy and frozen drinks.
Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) once said in the annual report that at the beginning of January 2021, the food grade hyaluronic acid declared by the company was approved as China’s new food raw material qualification. Through a large number of animal and human oral tests of food grade hyaluronic acid raw materials, the company has proved that hyaluronic acid is non-toxic, non mutagenic, non teratogenic, and will not cause human allergy and other adverse reactions, and demonstrated the safety of the product. On March 22 of the same year, Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) launched “shuijiquan” hyaluronic acid drinking water. It is reported that the drinking water only contains purified water and hyaluronic acid, and each bottle contains 66mg food grade hyaluronic acid.
Beijing News reporter saw in shuijiquan tmall store that compared with the price of 2-3 yuan of ordinary mineral water, the discount price of this drink is 89.1 yuan / box, about 5.94 yuan / bottle. Some consumers said in the evaluation that “it is a little thicker than other water”, while others said that “I bought it for the second time and hope it will be effective”.
According to the group standard preparation instructions of sodium hyaluronate drinks, the foreign sodium hyaluronate food market has a high maturity. In view of the newly approved application in China in 2021, the increment and growth rate of sodium hyaluronate drinks in China are expected to be considerable in the future. Formulating and promoting the standards of sodium hyaluronate drinks is conducive to regulating the production, inspection and sales of such products. In the quality requirements of sodium hyaluronate drinks, the content of sodium hyaluronate is emphasized. The maximum value of the content is formulated according to the requirements of the “three new foods” announcement issued by the National Health Commission, and the minimum value is to ensure the relatively obvious drinking taste of consumers. It is suggested that the content of sodium hyaluronate is 0.1-0.2g/kg (packaging specification: 50ml-500ml).
enterprises claim to replenish moisture and improve skin
Hyaluronic acid, in the eyes of many beauty lovers, is a material to replenish water and keep the skin young. After being approved for ordinary food, some consumers believe that hyaluronic acid can bring changes to the human body after consumption. Some enterprises also claim that foods added with hyaluronic acid can help replenish moisture and improve skin.
The customer service of shuijiquan store told the Beijing news that with regard to oral hyaluronic acid, scientific experiments proved that 52 subjects took 120mg hyaluronic acid (about the content of 2 bottles of 330ml shuijiquan) every day for 45 days, which can significantly improve skin moisture. The experimental results are for reference only, and the specific situation varies from person to person.
On Taobao platform, a shop mentioned in the product introduction of a product called “xinshuoyou hyaluronic acid drinking water”. The product is “hyaluronic acid that can be drunk to moisten the skin”, which can “reach the bottom of the skin”, and can be drunk or applied, benefiting skin, joints, eyes and other tissues. The customer service of Taobao store, which sells this water, said that after adults drink this water, because it contains oral hyaluronic acid, it can improve the skin to a certain extent.
In addition, hyaluronic acid food has also been extended to the field of pet food. The reporter of the Beijing News saw that a product of “madumi hair small blue tube” said in the introduction that Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) hyaluronic acid can replenish water and lock water 1000 times, which can rebuild the water and fat protective film, regulate the water and oil balance of skin and improve hair health. At the same time, it released a set of experimental results conducted by Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited(688363) for retired police dogs.
At the same time, some stores selling hyaluronic acid food did not clearly mark the applicable population. The above stores selling “Xinshuo superior hyaluronic acid drinking water” said that pregnant women and infants were not suitable for drinking when the reporter of the Beijing News asked the customer service.
According to the interpretation of the announcement on 15 “three new foods” such as cicada flower fruiting body (artificial cultivation) issued by the National Health Commission, it is mentioned that the information on the consumption safety of sodium hyaluronate in infants, pregnant women and lactating women is insufficient. Considering the principle of risk prevention, the above-mentioned people are not suitable for consumption. The labels and instructions should indicate the unsuitable people, and the recommended consumption amount should be ≤ 200 mg / day.
It is worth noting that in the latest catalogue of non nutrient supplements (2022 Edition) of health functions claimed by health foods (Exposure Draft) issued by the State Administration of market supervision in January this year, health foods are listed in 24 health functions, including “helping to improve skin moisture”. Only by applying for the “blue hat” of health care products can food publicize its health care effect, while the above drinks have not been obtained.
hyaluronic acid has little effect on drinking directly
In the opinion of experts, oral hyaluronic acid drinks may have the same effect as drinking a glass of water.
Ruan Guangfeng, director of science and Technology Communication Department of Kexin food and health information exchange center, told the Beijing news that oral hyaluronic acid can not directly affect human skin. This kind of drink is “no big difference” from ordinary mineral water, and it is more marketing.
Ruan Guangfeng introduced that hyaluronic acid is a macromolecular polysaccharide. Oral hyaluronic acid cannot be directly absorbed by the human body. After oral administration, the macromolecular hyaluronic acid will be digested and decomposed through the gastrointestinal tract and converted into small molecules of sugar before it can be absorbed and utilized by the human body. Secondly, the human body can synthesize hyaluronic acid by itself. In this way, the basic raw materials actually come from diet and metabolites, and there is no need to supplement hyaluronic acid.
Ruan Guangfeng said that drinking hyaluronic acid water can not directly supplement hyaluronic acid to human skin. “But drinking hyaluronic acid water can replenish water for the human body, and it is still a little useful for moisturizing the skin. However, it is water that plays a real role, not hyaluronic acid. It’s the same for you to drink cool and white.” If you want to moisturize your skin, you should drink more water and use moisturizing products frequently.
