Another name for sialic acid is 5-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), and sometimes it's also called NANA.
While Neu5Ac is the most common type of sialic acid found in humans, it's important to remember that sialic acid is actually a family of related structures. These structures vary, particularly at the C-5 carbon position. Other examples of sialic acids include 5-N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid. The last one is quite a mouthful!
In summary, while "sialic acid" broadly refers to a family of compounds, the most prevalent form in humans is often referred to as 5-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) or NANA.
