Nervonic acid: A Superfood for the Brain
07/24/2025 16:54:45
In this fast-paced era, our brains are overloaded every day. Memory loss, lack of concentration, mood swings... Have these become your daily troubles? Don't worry, today, we will reveal a mysterious substance that can add points to your brain health - neuronic acid
1. What is neuronic acid
Nervonic acid (Nervonic Acid) is a monounsaturated long-chain fatty acid, mainly found in brain nerve tissue and some plant seed oils. It is believed to play an important role in nerve cell repair, myelination and cognitive function maintenance, especially in the field of brain health in middle-aged and elderly people. The human body cannot synthesize neuronic acid independently and needs to be obtained through diet or supplements, but attention should be paid to scientific intake and individual differences.
2. Mechanism of action of neuronic acid
1. Composition of nerve cell membrane
Neuronic acid is an important component of nerve cell membrane, helping to maintain the fluidity and stability of cell membrane and promote efficient transmission of nerve signals.
2. Myelin repair and protection
Myelin is the "insulating layer" that wraps nerve fibers. Nervonic acid can promote the regeneration of damaged myelin and improve the symptoms of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
3. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
By regulating inflammatory factors and reducing oxidative stress, neurons are protected from damage, which may delay neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
3. Natural sources and supplementation methods
1. Plant sources
Acer truncatum seed oil: the most abundant natural plant source of neuraminic acid known so far (content is about 5%-8%).
Canola oil and rapeseed oil: contain a small amount of neuraminic acid, but need to be refined and extracted.
2. Animal sources
Deep-sea fish (such as tuna and cod) brain tissue and some fish oils contain trace amounts of neuraminic acid.
3. Supplements
Some health products are purified or synthesized by neuraminic acid, but attention should be paid to product purity and safety certification.
4. Applicable population and potential risks
1. Middle-aged and elderly groups
With age, the ability to synthesize neuraminic acid decreases, and supplementation may improve memory loss, brain fatigue and other problems.
2. Patients with neurological diseases
For example, patients with sequelae of stroke and patients in the recovery period of brain injury may use neuraminic acid to assist in repairing nerve function.
3. Use with caution in infants and young children
Some studies believe that neuraminic acid is beneficial to the brain development of infants, but it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's instructions and avoid excessive intake.
4. Potential risks
Excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and dyslipidemia; some people may be allergic to the extraction source (such as fish).
5. Usage recommendations and controversies
1. Scientific intake
There is no unified standard at present. Most studies recommend that the daily intake should not exceed 250 mg, which needs to be combined with dietary assessment.
2. Comprehensive health management
Neuraminic acid cannot replace drug treatment and needs to be combined with a balanced diet (such as Omega-3, B vitamins), moderate exercise and sleep.
3. Research controversy
Some clinical trials show that it is effective for mild cognitive impairment, but large-scale human data is still limited, and the effect varies from person to person.
6. Summary
As a key nutrient for brain health, neuraminic acid has potential in neural repair and cognitive maintenance, but its role needs to be viewed rationally. The content in natural foods is low. If supplementation is needed, it is recommended to choose reliable sources under professional guidance and give priority to indirectly obtaining relevant nutrients through dietary adjustments (such as increasing intake of deep-sea fish and nuts).
