HYALURONIC ACID

WHY HYALURONIC ACID?

DEFINING HYALURONIC ACID

Hyaluronic acid, also known as Hyaluronan, is a special gel-like molecule that can be naturally found in the body, particularly in the skin, eyes and joints. Some types of hyaluronic acid are known to hold up to 1000 times their weight in water. Therefore, the body produces hyaluronic acid to hydrate and lubricate tissues, stimulating the production of collagen and ensuring proper stretching, flexing and healing.

As a vital moisturising ingredient in the body, hyaluronic acid is often referred to as Nature’s Moisturiser. However, it has a rather short lifespan and the body and must be produced each day to maintain the levels necessary for the repair and regeneration of tissues lost through wear and tear.

“THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH”

Hyaluronic acid is a fundamental component of the extracellular matrix, which occupies the areas between cells and holds the tissues together. It is found in most tissues of the body including the heart, eyes, skin, joints, tendons and ligaments.

As we age, the production of hyaluronic acid declines, leaving tissues more exposed to UV damage, poor diet and other lifestyle influences. Therefore, daily supplementation could be essential to prolonging the state of natural youth.

Studies have shown that hyaluronic acid improves skin and tissue hydration, works as a free radical scavenger and stimulates the production of collagen.

NOT ALL HYALURONIC ACID IS THE SAME

Based on their chemical size, hyaluronic acid molecules are often identified as being of high, medium or low molecular weight measured in million Daltons.

Until recently, hyaluronic acid for human use was derived from rooster combs. However, due to its high molecular weight, the chemical size of such hyaluronic acid was too large for effective absorption by the intestinal tract. As a result, if taken orally, such hyaluronic acid would pass through the digestive system without much effect on the body. Also, this source of hyaluronic acid has obvious ethical concerns.

Enzymatically-produced hyaluronic acid can achieve a much lower molecular weight of about 0.005 million Daltons. However, due to such low chemical size, these molecules are extensively degraded in the stomach during digestion before reaching the intestinal tract where the absorption is supposed to happen. As a result, if taken orally, such hyaluronic acid would disappear before being able to have any effect on the body.

HOW PURE HA IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?

Hyaluronic acid within PureHA is vegan since it is produced by natural fermentation giving the medium molecular weight of about 1.2-1.5 million Daltons. Such chemical size is large enough to pass through the stomach without excessive degradation while being small enough to be easily absorbed by the intestinal tract. Clinical studies have provided evidence for the ability of orally-taken medium-weight hyaluronic acid to be absorbed and taken up by specific parts of the body[1]. Since capsules have to be digested before releasing their content, liquid supplements are able to get into the body quicker, making liquid an ideal form of delivery for hyaluronic acid to ensure the quickest possible impact. In fact, evidence shows that it can appear in the body in under an hour [2].