Does oral hyaluronic acid pay IQ tax?
On March 22, Huaxi Biotech (688363.SH), a leading hyaluronic acid company, officially launched the first domestic hyaluronic acid drinking water "Shuijiquan", claiming that the product consists of only water and 66mg hyaluronic acid, with 0 sugar, 0 fat, and 0 calories.
At the Tmall flagship store, 6 bottles are priced at 45.9 yuan, and the first batch has been quickly sold out.
Prior to this, the company also launched China's first hyaluronic acid food brand "Black Zero", including chewable tablets, soft candy, American ginseng drink, water light drink, bird's nest drink, etc.
And just a week ago, Hankou No. 2 Factory launched a hyaluronic acid sparkling water "Hashui", which is also added with Huaxi Bio-food-grade hyaluronic acid.
According to the product introduction, 68mg of hyaluronic acid is added to a bottle of Harbin water, which is equivalent to the amount of hyaluronic acid added for 4 masks and 3 cosmetic agents.
These foods and drinks added with hyaluronic acid all claim to have the effect of increasing skin moisture, moisturizing the skin and improving the complexion of the skin.
However, the Red Star Capital Bureau found that the efficacy of hyaluronic acid edible products is still inconclusive, and the discussion on whether oral hyaluronic acid is an "IQ tax" has never stopped.
"Food + Beauty" triggers new ideas for wealth
On January 7, 2021, the National Health Commission officially approved the request for sodium hyaluronate (commonly known as "hyaluronic acid") declared by Huaxi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. as a new food raw material, allowing it to be added to ordinary food.
The scope of application is expanded to milk and dairy products, beverages, alcohol, cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products (including cocoa butter chocolate and products), as well as sweets and frozen drinks.
The brand pointed out that Huaxi Bio-Food-Grade Hyaluronic Acid is a new food material. Drinking directly can increase the body's content and supplement the lack of hyaluronic acid in the human body.
Hyaluronic acid can make the skin moist, smooth, soft and elastic through digestion and absorption; it can delay aging, prevent arthritis, arteriosclerosis, pulse disorders, brain atrophy and other diseases.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately attracted widespread attention from the industry and consumers.
"Food + beauty" has triggered new ideas for wealth.
Several companies have launched various hyaluronic acid foods and drinks one after another.
Huaxi Biologics quickly launched the hyaluronic acid snack brand "Black Zero", including chewable tablets, soft candy, American ginseng drink, water light drink, bird's nest drink, etc., and then launched hyaluronic acid drinking water; the cutting-edge meal replacement milkshake brand Wonderlab launched oral transparent Jelly candy; Hankou No. 2 Factory launched hyaluronic acid sparkling water; Shandong's hyaluronic acid company Freda launched a variety of hyaluronic acid drinks such as "Tianziyuzhuo", "Boxiao Acid", "Shanyan" and so on...
The customer service of the flagship store of Hankou No. 2 Factory told the Red Star Capital Bureau that Hashui was only sold on Tmall. The first batch of products had been sold out, and the follow-up launch had to be notified.
The customer service of the Shuijiquan flagship store said that the first batch of products will be pre-sold at 11 am on March 24 and sold out soon.
According to the number of payers in the flagship store, more than 13,800 bottles were sold.
Can hyaluronic acid drinks really produce "smooth muscle"?
The efficacy of hyaluronic acid edible products is still inconclusive, and the discussion about whether oral hyaluronic acid is an "IQ tax" has never stopped.
The Red Star Capital Bureau contacted two large chain beauty institutions.
One of the beauticians believes that oral hyaluronic acid has no effect, and it is digested directly after drinking it. Injections should be used.
Another told the Red Star Capital Bureau, “In Europe, America, Japan and South Korea, oral hyaluronic acid has been tested in humans. It tells us in a scientific way that oral hyaluronic acid can indeed whiten skin care.”
The Red Star Capital Bureau found that beauty institutions deemed ineffective only provide hyaluronic acid external application and injection services, while those deemed effective sell a variety of oral hyaluronic acid products.
The Red Star Capital Bureau searched the user comment area of various hyaluronic acid oral liquids, and found that consumers' actual use experience was also polarized, and medical workers also had different views on the efficacy of hyaluronic acid.
Cheng Yinbing, an attending physician at Zhengzhou People's Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University, pointed out to the Red Star Capital Bureau that hyaluronic acid can be taken orally, but oral hyaluronic acid is not as effective as injection of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is decomposed into small unit molecules of sugars and amino acids after being absorbed by the stomach and intestines. It must be produced in the skin and connective tissue through complicated steps such as auto-synthesis, and its effect will be compromised.
Fu Yang, the attending physician of the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, believes that oral hyaluronic acid has little effect and efficacy, and it cannot play the role of wrinkle removal, filling and full skin.
After being taken orally, hyaluronic acid will be directly broken down into small molecules of nutrients. In essence, oral hyaluronic acid has the same effect as a normal diet.
The myth of hyaluronic acid making riches intensifies
Investing in skin condition is the lasting pursuit of contemporary women, which also gave birth to a huge hyaluronic acid terminal medical beauty market.
According to the "Hyaluronic Acid Application Scenario White Paper" released by Eric, the compound annual growth rate of my country's pharmaceutical-grade hyaluronic acid terminal product market exceeds 10%, and the domestic daily chemical product-grade hyaluronic acid terminal product market is expected to continue to grow at a rate of 7.6%. It is expected to grow to 92 billion yuan in 2024.
The raw materials of several hyaluronic acid foods and drinks mentioned in this article are all from Huaxi Biotech.
Huaxi Bio is also the world's largest hyaluronic acid research and development, production and sales company. After acquiring Dongying First Bioengineering Co., Ltd. in 2020, it occupies half of the global hyaluronic acid raw material market.
Today, the three giants in the domestic hyaluronic acid industry: Amic (300896.SZ), Huaxi Biology, and Haohaishengke (688366.SH) have all landed in the capital market.
The financial report shows that the gross profit margin of Amicco has been above 90%, the gross profit margin of Haohaishengke has been above 70%, and the gross profit margin of Huaxi Biology has been around 80%, which can be described as a veritable profiteering industry.
Chengdu Commercial Daily-Red Star News Reporter Wu Danruo