What is hyaluronic acid and why are some people treating it as a magic bullet for everything from anti-aging to joint disease while others are treating it as just the next fad in a long line of fountain of youth false hope gimmicks? It has been known since the 1970s that it has played a major role in the health of connective tissue and skin renewal. Essentially the molecule acts as both a lubricant in the joint system and in the fluid within the eyes and as a repair and maintenance factor in the skin. The chemical composition of the molecule has been known since 1934 when Karl Meyer first extracted it from the eye of a cow. He also discovered that hyaluronidase breaks down the molecule.
What Impact Does it Have in Anti-Aging?
In addition to maintaining joint health and visual acuity, the molecule is also a factor in neurology and epithelial tissues. Lack of sufficient hyaluronic acid results in stiffened joints and arthritis and the acid is used as an injectable treatment to ease the pain for arthritis sufferers. Insufficient amounts also result in visual problems and it is also used in the treatment of detached retinas. Injectable formulas are now being marketed to help in the prevention of skin aging as well. Why is it desireable to inject or add the molecule to the body? The enzyme hyaluronidase breaks down the molecule through all stages of life, but the presence of the enzyme increases as a person ages.
Are There Natural Sources of Hyaluronic Acid?
As the studies on the diet of the residents of Yuzurihari have shown, there are most definitely natural sources of the acid. The diet of the residents of this village varies from the already normally healthy Japanese diet in one key aspect. Rather than rice being a key source of carbohydrates for the residents, what have come to be termed "sticky vegetables" are the main source of carbohydrates. There is also a large amount of miso, tofu and fish in the diet. One key aspect is that in animal sources of the molecule the presence is in the connective tissues, not in the meat. This means that diets rich in the "sticky vegetables" such as dark sweet potatoes and "sticky" white potatoes and high carbohydrate root vegetables will allow the body to maintain higher levels of the acid.
What Else Can be Done to Prevent the Production of Hyaluronidase?
The presence of hyaluronidase will always break down hyaluronic acid, that is the function of the enzyme. The natural aging process increases the production of the molecule which results in smaller, less effective molecules of the normally extremely large molecules of the acid being present in the body. The consumption of foods that contain bioflavonoids gives the body the materials it needs to maintain a proper balance of the two molecules. Foods that contain them are citrus, most berries, ginkgo, green tea, red wine and dark chocolate.
Can it Help a Person Look Younger?
The research seems to say yes. The FDA approved the injectable forms based on clinical trials that yielded positive results and the products Restylane and Juvederm have been in constant use since the 2003 approval date. The results are temporary, as would be expected given the fact that the naturally occurring hyaluronidase will break down the substance. The next foray is into the topical application that is taking off in cosmetics and cosmesueticals. The use of acid in conjunction with silver sulfadiazanine has shown an improvement in epithelial cell renewal in the treatment of burn victims since 2004 so the future for topical application seems promising. Product lines such as dermatologist tested Hyalogy are showing positive clinical results and are being incorporated into premium spa treatments. The combination of the use of the acid in aiding burn victims and promoting cell renewal and ongoing clinical trials that have followed the approval for the injectable Restylane and Juvederm hold promise that these products will actually work and younger looking skin will be the result.
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