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Hyaluronic Acid |
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What is Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Hyaluronic Acid is a substance that is naturally found in the human body in the nerve, skin, and connective tissues. Hyaluronic acid is part of synovial fluid which is found in the vitreous humor (a clear gelatinous substance found in the center of the eye); the synovial fluid of joints; and in the subcutaneous (fat and connective tissue rich with large blood vessels and nerves) tissue. Synovial fluid is a clear liquid that acts as a joint lubricant and protects tendons. Synovial fluid is also responsible for nourishing the cartilage that covers all joints in the human body, protecting your joints and increasing joint mobility. Hyaluronic acid also has anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling properties that help minimizing joint pain.
There have been some studies that have linked abnormal levels of Hyaluronic Acid to connective tissue disorders and conditions commonly linked to premature aging. Other studies have linked unusually high Hyaluronic Acid levels to some types of cancer. While Hyaluronic Acid has been studied far less than other substances, there is most likely an optimal level of Hyaluronic Acid that people should maintain. When these levels become too high or too low it can result in disease.
Hyaluronic Acid is also a major part of skin, where it works to repair tissues. When the skin is sunburned, the cells in the top layer of the skin cease producing as much Hyaluronic Acid, resulting in an increase in the rate of degradation.
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History of Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Researchers first discovered Hyaluronic Acid in the 1930s. They later determined its importance throughout the body, especially in the maintenance of supple skin, eye volume and shape, and joint lubrication. In 2003, the FDA approved Restylane, the first Hyaluronic Acid dermal filler to correct wrinkles and folds in the face.
The name for hyaluronic acid comes from “hyalos,” the Greek work for glass, which describes its transparent and glassy appearance. While this supplement has gained recent popularity it may surprise you to know that the first Hyaluronic Acid oral supplements were conceived just outside of Tokyo, in a small village called Yuzuri Hara. This village has been recently popularized in the media and has been given the nickname “Village of Long Life.”
The people of this village eat a diet of local root vegetables that are rich in Hyaluronic Acid. Local doctors believed that these vegetables improved the body’s ability to regenerate Hyaluronic Acid, resulting in the delay of the aging process. The findings in this village prompted a large pharmaceutical company in Japan to produce the first Hyaluronic Acid supplementation pills.
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Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Hyaluronic Acid can be found in many tissues in the human body such as: skin, cartilage, and the vitreous humour. This makes it very useful in applications that directly target these tissues. The first biomedical hyaluronic product was Healon, created by Pharmacia. Healon has been approved for use in eye surgeries such as: corneal transplants, cataract and glaucoma surgery, and detached retina surgery.
Hyaluronic Acid is also used to treat osteoarthritis in the knee using viscosupplementation. This means that hyaluronic acid is injected directly into the joint of the knee. It is believed to increase the viscosity of the fluid in the joints, the lubrication of the joints, cushioning of the joints, and creates an analgesic effect.
In some types of cancer, high levels of hyaluronic acid are linked with malignancy and a poor outcome. Hyaluronic Acid is frequently used as a tumor marker for cancers like prostate and breast cancer. Blood level reviews can help in monitoring the progression of these cancers.
However, even though excess hyaluronic acid can cause the progression of some cancers, it can also be used to heal certain tissues (e.g., heal eye tissues after catact surgery). Currently it is believed that in the early stages of wound healing, large polymers of hyaluronic acid appear and actually make room for white blood cells so that the immune response can occur. It has also been used in the production of biological scaffolds for wound healing applications. This can be very useful in patients with diabetes suffering from chronic wounds.
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Sources and Forms of Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the human body. However, it can also be found in some foods including root vegetables in Japan, and animal body parts rich with Hyaluronic Acid, such as joints and bones.
Some foods can even increase your own natural production of Hyaluronic Acid. Foods that are made from soy are rich in soy isoflavones that protect the skin from sun damage and can increase the production of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic Acid can also be found in the vitreous humor of fish and in the combs of roosters. Many supplements are made by extracting Hyaluronic Acid from the combs of roosters.
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Recommended Dosage of Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Official guidelines for dosage of Hyaluronic Acid have not yet been established. Suggested dosage varies depending on the method of treatment, and can range from 3 mg – 150 mg, depending on the size of the person.
Hyaluronic Acid will eventually break down and be absorbed by the body. This means that medical as well as cosmetic applications are not permanent. In many cases the effects of Hyaluronic Acid may last between 6 and 9 months.
Hyaluronic Acid is currently available as an inject-able and oral supplementation. In studies, 2 ml of sodium hyaluronate was injected into the knee for the successful treatment of osteoarthritis. Many joint supplements contain as much as 150 mg of hyaluronic acid. The average capsule dosage is 20-50 mg, which may be taken up to 4 times per day.
For cosmetic injections, the Hyaluronic Acid gel filler dosage is 24 mg/ml. Topical products for the mouth are applied 2 or more times each day, for nose or skin ulcers it is 3-4 times each day. Eye drops are another method of application and should contain 0.1-0.4% sodium hyaluronate. Eye drops should be administered 3 or more times each day. Ear drops that contain 1% sodium hyaluronate can also be used once per day.
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Safety and Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid : |
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While there have been no confirmed reports of serious side effects linked to the supplementation of Hyaluronic Acid, some people may find that their skin may become irritated at the injection site. In addition, there have been a few rare reports of oral Hyaluronic Acid causing skin rashes and irritation.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Which foods contain Hyaluronic Acid?
A 20/20 segment on ABC attributed the long lives of Japanese villagers to "starchy root vegetables" such as: satsumaimo(a type of sweet potato), satoimo (a sticky white potato), Konyaku (a gelatinous root concoction), and imoji (a potato-like root). The local doctor believes that the locally-grown starchy roots help to stimulate the body's own creation of hyaluronic acid, which is diminishes as we age.
Consuming animal parts that contain large amounts of hyaluronic acid can also increase the body's cache of hyaluronic acid. Skin, tendons, and the joints of animals are all rich sources of hyaluronic acid. The combs of roosters contain a high concentration of hyaluronic acid. These parts can be used to make a broth that is rich in this substance.
How does Hyaluronic Acid help my joints? Can it be taken with Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements?
Hyaluronic Acid helps to improve movement and cushioning of joints. Hyaluronic Acid is constantly breaking down and simultaneously being produced - however, as we age, our production levels drop. This can result in pain from the increased friction and wear on the joints. Treatment for joint pain has been successful with Hyaluronic Acid injections into the joint, however, oral supplementation research has yet been conclusive.
Hyaluronic Acid, when taken with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, works synergistically to support and rebuild joint cartilage. Taking these 3 supplements in tandem may help to provide optimal support for your joints and other connective tissues. Research continues to support the effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid as a beneficial supplement for your joints.
Hyal-Joint is a natural extract with a high content of oral hyaluronic acid (60 percent) plus other ingredients such as collagen and glycosaminoglycans. A small pilot study shows that it could help those with joint problems.
Twenty subjects aged 40 years and older with knee osteoarthritis participated in a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Ten subjects received Hyal-Joint (80 mg/day) and 10 subjects received placebo for 8 weeks. This clinical trial showed that daily supplementation with oral hyaluronic acid from a natural extract of chicken combs (Hyal-Joint) was could reduce body pain and enhance quality-of-life markers in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. However this study can not distinguish if the benefits realized were due to specifically to Hyaluronic Acid, or to other ingredients present.
Research on this subject:
Effect of a natural extract of chicken combs with a high content of hyaluronic acid (Hyal-Joint) on pain relief and quality of life in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Nutr J. 2008 Jan.
Samson DJ, Grant MD, Ratko TA, et al. Treatment of primary and secondary osteoarthritis of the knee. Evid Rep Technol Assess. 2007 Sept;(157):1-157.
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Additional Research on Hyaluronic Acid : |
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Hyaluronic Acid and Mitral Valve Prolapse
Watanabe C, Sugiura M, Ohkawa S, et al. Pathology and histochemistry of mitral valve prolapse. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1998 Feb; 56(2):199-203.
Hyaluronic Acid and TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome)
Murakami KI, Shibata T, Kubota E, Maeda H. Intra-articular levels of prostaglandin E2, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin-4 and -6 sulfates in the temporomandibular joint synovial fluid of patients with internal derangement, Rheumatology (Oxford). 1999 Jul;38(7):602-7.
Hyaluronic Acid and Osteoarthritis
Abate M, Pelotti P, De Amicis D, et al. Viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid in hip osteoarthritis, Ups J Med Sci. 2008;113(3):261-77.
Atay T, Aslan A, Baydar ML, Ceylan B, Baykal B, Kirdemir V. The efficacy of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid applications after arthroscopic debridement in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Acta Orthrop Traumatol Turc. 2008;42(4):228-233.
Brzusek D, Petron D. Treating knee osteoarthritis with intra-articular hyaluronans. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 Dec;24(12):3307-22.
Hyaluronic Acid and Cancer
Bourguignon LY, Peyrollier K, Xia W, Gilad E. Hyaluronan-CD44 interaction activates stem cell marker Nanog, Stat-3-mediated MDR1 gene expression, and ankyrin-regulated multidrug efflux in breast and ovarian tumor cells. J Biol Chem. 2008 June 20;283(25):17635-51.
Tammi RH, Kultti A, Kosma VM, et al. Hyaluronan in human tumors: pathological and prognostic messages from cell-associated and stromal hyaluronan. Semin Cancer Biol. 2008 Aug;18(4):288-95.
Hyaluronic Acid and Retinal Detachment
Theocharis DA, Feretis E, Papageorgacopoulou N. Glycosaminoglycans in the vitreous body of patients with retinal detachment. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987 Jun;(219):28-37.
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