Hyaluronic Acid: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Sodium Hyaluronate
Scientific name(s)
Glycosaminoglycan
Family or group:
Carbohydrates
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Dry Eye ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of several clinical studies in patients with dry eye shows that the use of ophthalmic drops containing 0.1% to 0.4% hyaluronic acid for at least 14 days slightly improves tear production compared to artificial tears or saline control.
Posologie
Ocular administration
eye drops
Safety and Efficacy of a Preservative-Free Artificial Tear Containing Carboxymethylcellulose and Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Eye Disease: A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter 3-Month Study
Establishing the tolerability and performance of tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) in treating dry eye syndrome: results of a clinical study
A Randomized Multicenter Study Comparing 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.3% Sodium Hyaluronate with 0.05% Cyclosporine in the Treatment of Dry Eye
Leg Ulcer ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical studies in patients with at least one venous or mixed arteriovenous leg ulcer show that applying a specific gauze impregnated with hyaluronic acid once a day for 45 days reduces wound size by 73% and leads to complete wound healing after 20 weeks of treatment or less in 40% of patients, compared to an improvement of 46% and 19% respectively in the control group.
Posologie
Topical application
Efficacy and Safety of a Hyaluronic Acid-Containing Gauze Pad in the Treatment of Chronic Venous or Mixed-Origin Leg Ulcers: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial
Wrinkles ✪✪✪✪✪
Oral hyaluronic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. A small study shows that taking a specific combination product containing hyaluronic acid, krill oil, sea buckthorn oil, and cocoa bean extract orally three times a day for 90 days, along with the application of 0.1% tazarotene cream (part of the acetylene retinoid class) moderately reduces wrinkles and improves skin hydration and elasticity compared to tazarotene cream alone. A small clinical study in women with aging skin shows that taking a specific combination product containing 100 mg hyaluronic acid, 200 mg chondroitin sulfate, and 600 mg collagen peptides per day for 12 weeks reduces wrinkles and fine lines by about 13% compared to baseline values. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 61 subjects with dry skin who received oral hyaluronic acid (120 mg/day) for 6 weeks showed an improvement in skin water content 2 weeks after ingestion ended compared to the placebo group.
Posologie
Oral administration
100 - 200 mg
3 - months
Synergies
A single center, pilot, double-blinded, randomized, comparative, prospective clinical study to evaluate improvements in the structure and function of facial skin with tazarotene 0.1% cream alone and in combination with GliSODin(®) Skin Nutrients Advanced Anti-Aging Formula
Ingestion of hyaluronans (molecular weights 800 k and 300 k) improves dry skin conditions: a randomized, double blind, controlled study
Ingestion of BioCell Collagen(®), a novel hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract; enhanced blood microcirculation and reduced facial aging signs
Hyaluronic Acid and Cutaneous Hydration
Burns ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small clinical trials suggests that topical hyaluronic acid and its derivatives may improve wound healing, including burns, compared to control group.
Posologie
Topical application
gel, cream
Hyaluronic Acid: Structure, Metabolism, and Implication in Healing
Topical ozonated oil versus hyaluronic gel for the treatment of partial- to full-thickness second-degree burns: A prospective, comparative, single-blind, non-randomised, controlled clinical trial
Hyaluronic Acid and Inflammatory, Autoimmune, and Cardiovascular Pathology
Wound ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small clinical trials suggests that topical hyaluronic acid and its derivatives may enhance the healing of burns, wounds, and skin ulcers compared to the control group.
Posologie
Topical
gel, cream
Hyaluronic acid: structure, metabolism and involvement in healing
Hyaluronic acid and inflammatory, autoimmune, and cardiovascular pathology
Osteoarthritis ✪✪✪✪✪
A small study in patients with knee osteoarthritis shows that taking a standardized supplement containing 70% hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans once daily for 3 months slightly reduces pain compared to placebo. Hyaluronic acid has also been studied in combination with chondroitin and collagen peptides. The study showed a significant reduction in pain compared to the placebo group.
Posologie
Oral
100 - 200 mg
3 - months
Effect of the novel low molecular weight hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage extract, BioCell Collagen, on improving osteoarthritis-related symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
The effects of an oral preparation containing hyaluronic acid (Oralvisc®) on obese knee osteoarthritis patients determined by pain, function, bradykinin, leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and heavy water analyses
Oral Administration of Polymer Hyaluronic Acid Alleviates Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study over a 12-Month Period
Hyaluronic acid and inflammatory, autoimmune, and cardiovascular pathology
Properties
Wound Healing
Beyond any wound and healing process, long chains of HA have anti-inflammatory properties (at physiological concentrations) and potentially anti-angiogenic properties. Everything changes during the initial phases of healing. HA is released from its connections within glycoproteoglycans and becomes soluble in the extracellular matrix. The production of HA fragments through hyaluronidases serves as a signal to initiate different phases of healing. HA fragments stimulate inflammation by altering vascular permeability and leukocyte recruitment and angiogenesis by activating endothelial cells. Within the extracellular matrix, HA plays a fundamental role in the organization of the vascular network throughout the healing process: establishment of endothelial cells, stabilization of blood vessels, cell proliferation, migration, and survival.
Usages associés
Dermatological Effect
The dermis is composed of connective tissue characterized by an abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) containing elastic fibers and collagen and an amorphous ground substance. This ground substance primarily contains hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is the key molecule for cutaneous hydration. It can attract and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water, thus contributing to the visco-elastic properties of the skin, as in joints, acting as a shock absorber and skin tension regulator.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Hyaluronic acid plays a dual role on the elements of the inflammatory reaction, depending on its molecular state. Indeed, low molecular weight (MW) HA oligomers are antigenic, immunostimulatory, and pro-inflammatory. Conversely, high MW polymers have opposite properties on inflammation compared to low MW oligomers. They are anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive.
Usages associés
Immunomodulatory
The potential role of HA in certain autoimmune diseases has been highlighted in the literature. For instance, elevated HA levels have been reported in rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and ankylosing spondylitis (with correlation between plasma HA levels and severity). An elevation of CD44 expression (the receptor through which HA acts) has been observed within inflammatory infiltrates of murine and human arthritis.
Safety dosage
Adult: 60 mg - 200 mg
Clinical studies on hyaluronic acid have used doses between 60 and 200 mg per day. Most often, the recommended dosage is as follows: 200 mg per day taken in two doses.
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Nursing women: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Radiotherapy: avoid
A clinical study revealed an increased rate of grade 2 or higher dermatitis in breast cancer patients applying a gel containing hyaluronic acid on the breast during radiotherapy. It is advisable to avoid applying hyaluronic acid to irradiated tissues.
