Hyaluronic acid: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Sodium hyaluronate
Scientific name(s)
Glycosaminoglycan
Family or group:
Carbohydrates
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Dry eye ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of several clinical studies in patients with dry eye shows that the use of eye drops containing hyaluronic acid 0.1% to 0.4% for at least 14 days slightly improves tear production compared with artificial tears or saline control. rnrn
Posologie
By ocular route
Eye drop
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 leg ulcer of venous or mixed arteriovenous origin show that applying a specific gauze soaked with hyaluronic acid once a day for 45 days reduces wound size by 73% and results in complete wound healing after 20 weeks of treatment or less in 40% of patients, compared with improvements of 46% and 19% respectively in the control group. rnrn
Posologie
For topical use
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 combined product containing hyaluronic acid, krill oil, sea buckthorn berry oil, and cacao bean extract orally three times a day for 90 days, together with application of 0.1% tazarotene cream (part of the acetylenic retinoid class), moderately reduces wrinkles and improves skin hydration and elasticity compared with tazarotene cream alone. A small clinical study in women with aging skin shows that taking a specific combined product containing hyaluronic acid 100 mg, chondroitin sulfate 200 mg, and collagen peptides 600 mg per day for 12 weeks reduces wrinkles and fine lines by about 13% compared with baseline. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted 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 the end of ingestion compared with the placebo group.
Posologie
Orally
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 signs of facial aging
Hyaluronic acid and skin hydration
Burns ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small clinical trials suggests that topical hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid derivatives may improve wound healing, including burns, compared with the control group.
Posologie
Topically
gel, cream
Hyaluronic acid: structure, metabolism, and role in wound healing
Topical ozonated oil versus hyaluronic gel for the treatment of partial- to full-thickness second-degree burns: a prospective, comparative, single-blind, non-randomized, controlled clinical trial
Hyaluronic acid and inflammatory, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases
Wound ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small clinical trials suggests that topical hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid derivatives may improve the healing of burns, wounds, and skin ulcers compared with the control group.
Posologie
Topically
gel, cream
Hyaluronic acid: structure, metabolism, and role in wound healing
Hyaluronic acid and inflammatory, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases
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 reduced pain compared to placebo. rnrnHyaluronic acid has also been studied in combination with chondroitin and collagen peptides. The study showed a significant reduction in pain compared with the placebo group. rnrn
Posologie
Oral administration
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
Healing
Outside of any wound or healing process, long HA chains have anti-inflammatory properties (at physiological concentrations) and are potentially anti-angiogenic. rnrnEverything changes during the early phases of healing. HA is released from its connections within proteoglycans and becomes soluble in the extracellular matrix. The production of HA fragments by hyaluronidases serves as a signal to initiate the different phases of healing.rnrnHA fragments stimulate inflammation by modifying vascular permeability and leukocyte recruitment, and stimulate angiogenesis by activating endothelial cells.rnrnWithin the extracellular matrix, HA plays a fundamental role in organizing the vascular network throughout the wound-healing process: establishment of endothelial cells, stabilization of blood vessels, and cell proliferation, migration and survival.rnrn
Usages associés
Dermatologic effect
The dermis is made up of connective tissue characterized by an abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) that contains elastic fibers, collagen and an amorphous ground substance.rnrnThis ground substance essentially contains hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is the key molecule for skin hydration. It can attract and bind up to 1000 times its weight in water and thus contributes to the viscoelastic properties of the skin, as it does in joints, playing a cushioning role and regulating skin tension.rnrn
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Hyaluronic acid has a dual role on the elements of the inflammatory reaction, depending on its molecular state. Indeed, low molecular weight (MW) oligomers of HA are antigenic, immunostimulatory and pro-inflammatory. In contrast, high MW polymers have opposite properties on inflammation compared with low MW oligomers. They are anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.rnrn
Usages associés
Immunomodulatory
The potential role of HA in certain autoimmune diseases has been highlighted in the literature. Indeed, elevated levels of HA have been reported in rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis (with a correlation between plasma HA levels and severity). An increase in CD44 expression (the receptor through which HA acts) has been observed within inflammatory infiltrates in murine and human arthritis. rnrnrnrn
Safe dosage
Adult: 60 mg - 200 mg
Clinical studies of hyaluronic acid have used doses ranging from 60 to 200 mg per day. Most often, the recommended dosage is as follows: 200 mg per day taken in two divided doses.rnrn
Precautions
Pregnancy: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information. rnrn
Breastfeeding: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information. rnrn
Radiation therapy: avoid
A clinical study found an increased rate of grade 2 or higher dermatitis in female patients with breast cancer who applied a gel containing hyaluronic acid to the breast during radiotherapy. It is recommended to avoid applying hyaluronic acid to irradiated tissues.
