Chemical Structure
From the chemical point of view, hyaluronic acid consists of a linear polysaccharide chain, produced by the concatenation of thousands of disaccharide units, linked by β- (1 → 4) bond and formed by residues of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, to in turn linked by β- (→ 3) bonds.
Thanks to this particular chemical structure, hyaluronic acid is able to bind many water molecules to itself, reaching a high degree of hydration.
.
At the Cutaneous Level
Thanks to its high molecular weight and high degree of hydration, hyaluronic acid can organize itself into macromolecules, forming a dynamic reticular structure that fills the spaces between the collagen fibers; this scaffold maintains the shape and tone of the tissue , and acts as a physical filter against the diffusion of particular substances, including bacteria and infectious agents. However, it should be noted that many bacteria can degrade hyaluronic acid, breaking through this three-dimensional structure, thanks to the secretion of the enzyme hyaluronidase.
At the cutaneous level, hyaluronic acid plays a very important role in preserving the right degree of hydration and firmness of the skin, also exerting a filling action that gives the skin a young and plumped appearance.
At the Joint Level
Being able to store a lot of water molecules, hyaluronic acid is also able to act as a shock absorber for mechanical shocks and as an efficient lubricant (eg in the synovial fluid), preventing damage to tissue cells from physical stress.
It is no coincidence that hyaluronic acid in cartilage, by binding to proteoglycans, forms aggregates of considerable size, making it essential for the stability of the cartilage itself. During joint inflammation, the structure of hyaluronic acid is attacked by pro-inflammatory substances (with of hyaluronidase activity), thus losing not only the structural characteristics, but also its lubricating and nourishing functionality. These alterations are at the basis of the cartilaginous degenerative phenomena typical of arthrosis.
X115® | Day & Night Hyaluronic Acid Supplement
X115® + PLUS is an "effective anti-aging formula for skin beauty and joint well-being.
With Hyaluronic Acid (100mg), Collagen (5 grams), Echinacea, Centella, Resveratrol, Q10, Lipoic Acid, Pomegranate, Olive and Cocoa extracts.
The Double Day & Night Formula stimulates the synthesis of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, supporting the antioxidant defenses of the skin and the body.
€ 68.00 See the offer , this polysaccharide is commonly used for infiltrations in the treatment of inflammatory processes and joint degenerative diseases.
In these cases, medical treatment is aimed at locally enriching and replacing the synovial fluids that fill the suffering osteoarticular joints, through local infiltration of hyaluronic acid. For this purpose, this polysaccharide is used as an anti-inflammatory lubricant and preservative of the synovial fluid.
Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetics
Injections of hyaluronic acid are also used in surgery and cosmetic dermatology, to eliminate wrinkles and prevent skin aging (see hyaluronic acid fillers), while the cosmetic industry includes hyaluronic acid in make-up products. and in moisturizing creams with anti-aging action (see hyaluronic acid in cosmetics).
Other Uses
In ophthalmology, hyaluronic acid-based artificial tears are used to relieve dry eye.
Hyaluronic acid is also used for the controlled release of some drugs.
, often combined with chondroitin sulfate, especially to promote joint health. For some time, however, hyaluronic acid supplements to be taken orally have appeared on the market.
This possibility has long been ruled out, since the digestive processes irremediably alter the structure of hyaluronic acid, inactivating it; moreover, the high molecular weight made the hypothesis of significant intestinal absorption implausible.
How it is produced
Hyaluronic acid is particularly abundant in the rooster's crests and this material has been used for the preparation of specific supplements, which have shown positive effects on skin turgor and hydration, as evidence of a certain intestinal absorption capacity of hyaluronic acid. introduced orally.
It should be borne in mind that most of the hyaluronic acid present on the market today is not of animal origin, however, but is produced by bacterial fermentation (thanks to recombinant DNA technology).
How it works and Effectiveness
The first studies on the kinetics of digestion and absorption of hyaluronic acid have suggested the possibility of it being broken up (hydrolyzed) in the stomach and intestines, also thanks to the action of the local bacterial flora (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli); here, thanks to the marked solubility, the linear structure and the absence of sulphate groups, it is plausible that the fragments of hyaluronic acid are absorbed without particular difficulty, as evidenced by various experiments conducted on mouse models.
After absorption, these molecular chains would somehow be recomposed in the appropriate locations, to give hyaluronic acid through internal synthesis reactions.
Another mechanism of action hypothesizes that hyaluronic acid taken orally modulates inflammation also through a direct interaction with the epithelial cells of the intestine and their receptors; this interaction would result in the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10.
The effectiveness of hyaluronic acid taken orally in rehydrating dry skin and improving knee health has now been confirmed by numerous studies, including some interesting reviews (see bibliography)
If we want, this is a little bit what happens with collagen (another essential component of skin and joints), which, once introduced with the diet or specific supplements, is digested in the stomach; at this point, the individual amino acids and the small peptides resulting from the digestion of collagen, they are transported into the bloodstream and - once they arrive at the sites responsible for the synthesis of the molecule - they are used as building blocks to reconstruct the colalgen, stimulating its endogenous synthesis.
For what has been said, a supplement containing adequate concentrations of hyaluronic acid, collagen and other supporting active ingredients, can represent a valid solution for joint well-being, helping to maintain dynamic joints.
The action of hyaluronic acid supplements is also useful for supporting skin hydration, keeping the skin firmer and brighter, with fewer wrinkles.
Bibliography
Nutr J. 2014 Jul 11; 13: 70. doi: 10.1186 / 1475-2891-13-70. Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin. Kawada C, Yoshida T, Yoshida H, Matsuoka R1, Sakamoto W, Odanaka W, Sato T, Yamasaki T, Kanemitsu T, Masuda Y, Urushibata O.
Nutr J. 2015; 15:11 Oral hyaluronan relieves knee pain: a review. Mariko Oe, Toshiyuki Tashiro, Hideto Yoshida, Hiroshi Nishiyama, Yasunobu Masuda, Koh Maruyama, Takashi Koikeda, Reiko Maruya, and Naoshi Fukui
Huang SL, Ling PX, Zhang TM. Oral absorption of hyaluronic acid and phospholipids complexes in rats. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:945-9.
JIANG Qiu-yan, LING Pei-xue, HUANG Si-ling, LIN Hong, ZHANG Tian-min (Division of Life Science and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China); Study on absorption of hyaluronic acid after an oral administration in rats [J]; Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal; 2005-23.
Qiu-yan JIANG Pei-xue LING Tian-min ZHANG. Progress in Oral Administration of Hyaluronic Acid. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2006, 41: 729-731.
Sponsored content: My-personaltrainer.it presents products and services that can be purchased online on Amazon and / or other e-commerce. Every time a purchase is made through one of the links on the page, My-personaltrainer.it could receive a commission from Amazon or from the other e-commerce mentioned. We inform you that the prices and availability of the products are not updated in real time and may change over time, so we invite you to check availability and price on Amazon and / or on other e-commerce mentioned.
