Hyaluronic Acid, the Holy Grail of Hydration

The body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, which helps lubricate our tissues. It plays a role in skin health, wound healing, bone strength, and improve many other bodily systems and functions

Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body, with largest amounts of it found in your skin, connective tissue, and eyes. Its main function is to retain water to keep your tissues lubricated and moist, has a variety of uses. Many people take it as a supplement, but it’s also used in topical serums, eye drops, and injections.

Hyaluronic acid supplements can be safely taken by most people and provide many health benefits. Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and speeding up wound healing. It can also help relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant a substance that retains moisture and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin, eyes, and synovial fluid of the joints, Scientific studies have also shown that Hyaluronic Acid helps improve the production of collagen, fight free radicals, maintain skin elasticity, and even has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help with wound healing.

The average human body contains about 15 grams of Hyaluronic Acid, however, one-third of that gets degraded and synthesised on a daily basis. As we age, the production of key substances in the skin, including hyaluronic acid (along with collagen and elastin) decreases. As a result, our skin loses volume, hydration, and plumpness.

Want to find out more?, click of these links to view the scientific & research studies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11123099/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34203487/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36206809/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34933842/

Hyaluronic acid and Skin Health

Hyaluronic acid supplements can help your skin look and feel more supple.

Hyaluronic acid is a compound found naturally in the skin, where it binds to water to help retain moisture. However, the natural aging process and exposure to things like ultraviolet radiation from the sun, tobacco smoke, and pollution can decrease its amounts in the skin. Taking hyaluronic acid supplements may prevent this decline by giving your body extra amounts to incorporate into the skin .

According to one 2014 study, doses of 120–240 mg per day for at least 1 month have been shown to significantly increase skin moisture and reduce dry skin in adults . Ingested Hyaluronic acid contributes to the increased synthesis of the bodies own Hyaluronic acid and promotes cell proliferation in fibroblasts.

Hyaluronic acid is a major component of the extracellular matrix of the skin and plays a key role in the metabolism of the dermis. It is one of the most hydrophilic molecules in nature and can be described as naturés moisturizer. With aging, the epidermal Hyaluronic acid content decreases from 0.03% in people aged 19 to 47 years down to 0.015% in people aged 60 years and halves to 0.007% in people aged 70 years.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871318/

Hyaluronic acid and Wound Healing

Hyaluronic acid also plays a key role in wound healing.

It’s naturally present in the skin, but its concentrations increase when there is damage in need of repair. Hyaluronic acid helps wounds heal faster by regulating inflammation levels and signaling the body to build more blood vessels in the damaged area.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26978861/

Hyaluronic acid and Joint Pain

Hyaluronic acid is also found in the joints, where it keeps the space between your bones lubricated. When the joints are lubricated, the bones are less likely to grind against each other and cause uncomfortable pain.

Hyaluronic acid supplements are very helpful for people with osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear on the joints over time.

Taking 80–200 mg daily for at least 2 months has been shown to significantly reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis, especially those between the ages of 40 and 70 years old.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6603175/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729158/

Hyaluronic acid and Reflux Symptoms

New research shows Hyaluronic acid supplements may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

When acid reflux occurs, the contents of the stomach are regurgitated up into the throat, causing pain and damage to the lining of the esophagus. Hyaluronic acid may help soothe the damaged lining of the esophagus and speed up the recovery process.

One study found that applying a mixture of Hyaluronic acid acid-damaged throat tissue helped it heal much faster than when no treatment was used.

Human studies have also shown benefits. A study found that taking a Hyaluronic acid supplement along with an acid-reducing medication decreased reflux symptoms 60% more than taking acid-reducing medication alone. Another older study showed that the same type of supplement was five times more effective at reducing acid reflux symptoms than a placebo.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5347926/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24379055/

Hyaluronic acid and Bone Strength

New research has begun to investigate the effects of Hyaluronic acid supplements on bone health.

Two studies have found that Hyaluronic acid supplements can help slow the rate of bone loss with osteopenia, the beginning stage of bone loss that precedes osteoporosis. Some older test-tube studies have also shown that high doses of Hyaluronic acid can increase the activity of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for building new bone tissue. This research is ongoing, but is showing promising results so far.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14555276/

Hyaluronic acid Dosage

When used as a daily supplement, a recommended dose of 150 mg - 300 mg has been deemed a well tolerated and beneficial dose.

As is the case with all supplements, it is wise to start with the lowest possible effective dose and build gradually as needed.

Are there side effects of Hyaluronic acid supplementation? 

Hyaluronic acid is generally very safe to use, with few reported side effects.

Since the body naturally produces it, allergic reactions are very rare. One 2012 study in 60 people with osteoarthritis who took 200 mg daily for 1 year reported no negative side effects .

However, its effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding have not been thoroughly studied, so these groups should be cautious and avoid supplementing with it. Always consult with a health professional before commencing with any supplementation.