5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA)

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride / Phosphate (5-ALA HCl / 5-ALA Phosphate)

Product Name: 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride (5-ALA HCl)

Other different salt forms of 5-ALA: 5-aminolevulinic acid phosphate, 5-aminolevulinic acid sulfate

Synonyms: δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride, 5-Amino-4-oxopentanoic acid HCl, 5-ALA HCl

CAS Number:

• 5-ALA Hydrochloride: 5451-09-2
• 5-ALA Phosphate: 868074-65-1

Molecular Formula:

• 5-ALA HCl: C₅H₉NO₃ • HCl
• 5-ALA Phosphate: C₅H₁₂NO₇P

Molecular Weight:

• 5-ALA HCl: 167.59 g/mol
• 5-ALA Phosphate: 229.13 g/mol (approx.)

Chemical Structure: A five-carbon δ-amino acid with a ketone group at the C4 position. It is supplied as stable salt forms (hydrochloride or phosphate) to improve water solubility, shelf-life, and handling in formulations.

Characteristics

5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) is a naturally occurring endogenous non-proteinogenic amino acid present in nearly all living organisms. It serves as the universal first committed precursor in the biosynthesis of tetrapyrrole compounds, including heme (essential for hemoglobin, cytochromes, and mitochondrial energy production), chlorophyll, and vitamin B12.

Gothink Biotech primarily offers 5-ALA Hydrochloride and 5-ALA Phosphate salts in the form of white to off-white crystalline powder. These salt forms are highly water-soluble and exhibit significantly better stability than the free acid, making them ideal for dietary supplements, functional foods, and nutraceutical formulations.

Key Features & Advantages

• Enhanced Stability: The hydrochloride and phosphate salts provide superior chemical stability during storage and processing compared to the free 5-ALA acid, reducing degradation and extending shelf life.
• Improved Solubility & Bioavailability: Both salts dissolve readily in water, facilitating easy incorporation into capsules, tablets, powders, and liquid formulations with excellent absorption.
• Lower Irritation (Phosphate Advantage): 5-ALA Phosphate is generally considered less irritating to the gastrointestinal tract than the hydrochloride form and is widely used in dietary supplements, especially in combination with iron sources (such as sodium ferrous citrate).
• Precision Biomanufacturing: Produced via advanced synthetic biology and fermentation technology, ensuring high purity (>98%), batch-to-batch consistency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Excellent Safety Profile: Low-dose supplementation (typically 10–50 mg/day, up to 200 mg/day in studies) of 5-ALA salts has demonstrated good tolerability in human trials.
• Global Compliance: Manufactured under ISO 9001, ISO 22000, GMP, Halal, Kosher, and other international standards, with full third-party testing and traceability.

Note from Gothink Biotech: For dietary supplements, functional foods, and nutraceutical formulations, we recommend 5-ALA Phosphate or 5-ALA Hydrochloride rather than the free acid. Both salt forms are manufactured through advanced biomanufacturing processes, ensuring high purity, consistency, and compliance with GMP, ISO, Halal, and Kosher standards.

Main Applications & Benefits

In dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, 5-ALA HCl and 5-ALA Phosphate are valued for supporting mitochondrial function and cellular energy metabolism through enhanced heme biosynthesis. Key potential benefits include:

• Promoting efficient ATP production and reducing fatigue.
• Supporting healthy glucose metabolism and helping maintain normal blood sugar levels.
• Aiding mitochondrial health, which may benefit metabolic wellness, exercise performance, and age-related energy decline.
• Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects via heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway upregulation.
• Additional applications in cosmetics (skin vitality), animal nutrition (improved iron utilization), and agriculture.

The phosphate form is particularly popular in functional supplements due to its milder profile, while the hydrochloride form offers excellent cost-performance for general use. Both are commonly formulated alone or with iron for synergistic effects.

Note on Regulatory Status: In many countries, low-dose 5-ALA salts are used as dietary supplement ingredients. Higher doses for medical applications (e.g., photodynamic therapy) are regulated differently. Please ensure compliance with local regulations in your target markets.

References / Authoritative Sources:

• PubChem: 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride (CID 123608) and Aminolevulinic Acid Phosphate.
• Scientific literature on safety and efficacy of 5-ALA phosphate with sodium ferrous citrate in human studies (e.g., Clinical and Translational Science, Functional Foods in Health and Disease).
• Peer-reviewed papers on 5-ALA in mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism (available via PMC and scientific journals).