What is hyaluron (hyaluronic acid)?

Hyaluron, or hyaluronic acid, is familiar to many from plastic surgery, where the substance has long been used as a "wrinkle filler" for the skin. The molecule occurs naturally in our body - we can even produce it ourselves to a certain extent. However, as we age, the amount of hyaluronic acid in our bodies decreases, resulting in reduced skin elasticity. Some studies have shown that a regular supply of hyaluron can reduce the depth of wrinkles. Learn more about the fascinating molecule hyaluron and what benefits it has for you.

Occurrence of hyaluron

The name hyaluronic acid goes back to its discoverer Karl Meyer. In the 1930s, Meyer isolated a substance consisting of many disacharides and uronic acids from the vitreous humour of bovine eyes for the first time. The ancient Greek word for glass is "hyalos" and thus he named the newly discovered substance hyaluronic acid. Hyaluron is the abbreviation of the word.

In our body there is a total of about 15 grams of hyaluronic acid, distributed among other things in our joints, connective tissue, the vitreous body of the eye and in the skin. About half of all hyaluronic acid is found in the skin, both in the upper epidermis and in the deeper dermis.

Here are a few more impressive numbers:

- The hyaluronic acid content in the skin of a 75-year-old is only about a quarter of that of a 19-year-old person!
- Your body synthesizes about 5g of hyaluronic acid per day, and the same amount is broken down. So about a third of the total amount of hyaluronic acid in your body is broken down and rebuilt every day.

What does hyaluronic acid do?

To understand the role of hyaluronic acid in our body, we need to take a closer look at its molecular structure. Hyaluronic acid consists of a string of two-sugar molecules, so-called disaccharides. The disaccharide molecules are modified glucose building blocks with the complicated names D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The changes allow the individual two-sugars to be linked together like a chain. This is chemically called polymers. This structure makes it possible for hyaluron to bind a great deal of water .

Depending on how many two-sugars are linked together, molecules of different weight are obtained. A rough distinction is made between light, also called low-molecular hyaluron (NMW), and heavy, so-called high-molecular hyaluron (HMW).

This distinction is important because the two molecules have different properties.

High Molecular Weight Hyaluron (HMW)

High-molecular hyaluron is said to exist from a weight of¹⁰⁶ Dalton. This is approximately 100 kilodaltons (kDA). High-molecular-weight hyaluron, as found in MoleQlar Hyaluron is found in joint cartilage and synovial fluid as a "lubricant". In addition, some studies have shown that it has a positive effect on wound healing. It supports connective tissue and reduces inflammation in the body via interaction with surface molecules of our defense cells.

In addition, some double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (highest level of evidence) demonstrated that wrinkle depth was significantly reduced after 28 days of oral intake of high molecular weight hyaluronan.

One gram of hyaluronic acid can bind about 6 liters of water. The vitreous body of our eye consists of about 98% water. The remaining two percent are hyaluron and collagen fibers.

Low molecular weight hyaluron (NMW)

Low-molecular hyaluron was also able to reduce wrinkle depth in some studies - however, it was not as effective as high-molecular hyaluron. Under low molecular weight hyaluron, proinflammatory (pro-inflammatory) signals were more likely to be observed.

In certain diseases, bronchial asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and arterial hypertension, endogenous high molecular weight hyaluron is converted into low molecular weight hyaluron. Studies have shown that this shift to more NMW, promotes an increased inflammatory response.

Hyaluron in science and research

Hyaluron is used in many areas of medicine due to its unique biological and chemical properties. Here are some examples:

• as a "carrier substance" in medicinal products.
• as a topical application in wound healing
• in eye surgery to protect the eye
• as a "lubricant" in the joint
• As an ingredient in nasal sprays to reduce dryness.

There are many other areas in which hyaluron is used. For example, one area of research is the use of hyaluronic acid as a "carrier" molecule for anti-cancer drugs. It has been shown that some tumors over express the receptor CD44. Hyaluronic acid can bind to this receptor, making it an interesting molecule to develop targeted therapies.

How do we absorb hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluron is - as mentioned before - a rather large molecule. Too big to be completely absorbed by our intestines. For this reason, it has long been assumed that a sip substitution of hyaluron can do nothing, after all, the molecule is broken down into smaller pieces in our intestines.

However, this assumption could be disproved. It is true that hyaluron is broken down into smaller fragments in our intestines. However, these fragments find their way into our connective tissue and activate the same signaling pathways there as hyaluron. Additionally, high molecular weight hyaluron is absorbed as a complete molecule through our lymphatic system. In a larger review, the results of several studies were compiled. In doing so, several findings emerged. First, the researchers found that after taking high molecular weight hyaluronic acid daily for at least four weeks, wrinkles reduced and skin hydration improved. Even more exciting, one study showed that orally ingested high-molecular-weight hyaluron is deposited in the connective tissue.

In one study, 60 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were given 200mg of hyaluron orally for 12 months. The other group received cornstarch. Both groups were given a comparable sports program. After 12 months, the hyaluronan group benefited. It showed a greater reduction in pain, with those under 70 years of age benefiting particularly from daily use.

Hyaluron in the cosmetics industry

Hyaluron has long been known in the cosmetics industry as an additive in creams, serums or gels.

Our skin owes its elasticity and firmness to the connective tissue. The main components are collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Due to its water-binding ability, hyaluron is responsible for the moisture content and thus indirectly for the firmness of our skin.

As our body produces less and less hyaluron with age and the skin thus loses fluid, the filler substance is lost. We see this when our skin wrinkles. Often our skin is a reflection of our "felt" age. Our largest organ is visible to everyone around us, which is why we want to avoid aging skin as much as possible.

Hyaluron gels promise to compensate for this fluid loss. However, the study situation here is not clear. It is very likely that hyaluron applied to the skin cannot penetrate deep enough into the skin. It rather binds the water on the skin. The only option, besides oral supplementation, is to inject hyaluron into the skin. Depending on the hyaluron used, the effect lasts from 6 to 24 months.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our skin. With age, our body reduces collagen synthesis, similar to hyaluron. This also contributes to skin aging.

Glycine, an amino acid that we take in with food, can, according to some studies, promote collagen synthesis and thus, together with hyaluronic acid, prevent premature aging of the skin. Learn here more about the molecule glycine and its effects on the human body.

So glycine and hyaluron together act on two important aging processes in the skin and can have positive effects on your skin health. Both molecules come together in MoleQlar® Hyaluron are present.

Hyaluronic acid in food

Hyaluronic acid is found in both animal and plant foods. In animal foods, hyaluronic acid is found primarily in cartilage tissue or in broths prepared from animal bones. Other sources are:

• Fish, such as mackerel or sea bream
• Potatoes
• Green leafy vegetables
• Bananas
• Almonds
• Sweet potatoes
• Cashews
• Tofu

The exact amounts of hyaluronic acid in foods are not well researched. However, a healthy, balanced diet, in addition to sufficient supplementation, can contribute to an increased intake of hyaluronic acid.

How is hyaluron produced?

In the past, hyaluronic acid had to be extracted laboriously from cattle eyes or rooster combs. Since this method is not very sustainable, researchers have come up with other methods.

Nowadays, hyaluronic acid is produced by genetically modified bacteria. In large fermentation plants, pure, vegan hyaluron can thus be obtained. Due to the various filtration processes, the risk of allergies is also lower than with animal products. The end product is also completely free of genetic engineering, because the bacteria are completely removed.

You can also get this pure, vegan form of hyaluronic acid from from MoleQlar® to order. Together with glycine, hyaluronic acid fights at the forefront of your metabolic and skin health!

Summary

Hyaluronic acid is an important component of our body. However, as we age, we gradually lose the ability to produce hyaluronic acid. This results in reduced skin elasticity, wrinkles increase and our "lubricant" in the joints becomes less, leading to more pain.

Supplementation with hyaluronic acid has been found to be safe in many studies. The daily intake of hyaluron can contribute to the fact that your skin has fewer wrinkles and inflammations in the body are reduced. Thus, among other things, you support your largest organ, the skin, from premature aging.