Hyaluronic Acid for Skin, Joint and Brain Health
by Nils Osmar. February 18, 2022
When we’re young, we have a “cushion” composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) in our joints and dermal layer, protecting our skin and joints. It gives the skin its natural plumpness and resilience when we’re young.
As we age, we experience a decrease in the amount of HA in our bodies. This can result in joint pain and wrinkling, saggy skin.
HA is also a component of our brains. Its loss due to the aging process is associated with brain shrinkage and greater risk of =damage from strokes and dementia.
Replenishing Hyaluronic Acid
- We can replenish HA with injections or supplements, or by eating “nose to tail”.
- Soup made from chicken combs is a good dietary source (reference).
My Experience
- I’ve had pain in one of my knees for a few years; I feel it when I’m exercising (using my knees) or taking the stairs.
- Recently I’ve added vitamin C (which stimulates the production of collagen) and oral hyaluronic acid to the supplements I take before exercising.
- I’ve noticed that the pain is greatly reduced when I take them before workouts. I notice this particularly in my knee. I became curious whether oral HA had been studied specifically for knee pain; it turns out that it has. (See study)
- I also noticed that my skin looked “plumper” and more resilient. some fine-line wrinkles, including the folds between my nose and mouth, looked less deep, And my skin snaps back faster when I do the “pinch test” on the back of my palm.
My Joint Health Cocktail
Re: joint health, I’ve found it helpful to take the following supplements before working out:
- Mercola Vitamin C (1 gram)
- DoNotAge high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (600 mg)
- I also sometimes take BioOptimal collagen capsules. (Though I get most of my collagen from collagen powders)
- I like to experience some inflammation after working out because it’s a natural part of maintaining and building muscles. But if it becomes too extreme I’ll sometimes take a supplement called New Chapter Whole Body Zyalamend, which contains ginger and some other anti-inflammatory herbs.
I also take NAD boosters and testosterone boosters before working out.
An Interesting Study
“Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials carried out between 2008 and 2015 have proven the effectiveness of HA for the treatment of symptoms associated with synovitis, and particularly, knee pain, relief of synovial effusion or inflammation, and improvement of muscular knee strength” See study
Side Effects
Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements can have both benefits and side effects. I encourage everyone to read up on the possible side effects of any supplements they’e taking.
This page has a list of some of the possible side effects of dosing with HA. Bear in mind, however, that HA is also taken by injection, so some of the side effects listed may be associated with reactions to injection rather than injections to what is being injected.
From the article:
As the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, this substance rarely causes severe side effects or allergic reactions.
However, people who have a history of severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, should be cautious when using hyaluronic acid.
Its effects during pregnancy and while breastfeeding remain unknown, so women may want to avoid taking hyaluronic acid supplements during these times.
References
- Oral Hyaluronic Acid Relieves Knee Pain
- Oral Hyaluronic Acid Alleviates Osteoarthritis
- Oral Hyaluronic Acid Relieves Skin Wrinkles
- Enhancing Skin Health by Oral Administration (of Collagen)
- Harnessing the Potential of Brain Repair by Biomaterials after Stroke
- Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging
- Study Finds Novel Role in Skin Plumping molecule
