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Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan is found in epithelial (skin), connective (joints) and neural tissues. Hyaluronic acid is a component within the plasma membrane of cells. An average person weighing 70 kilograms has about 15 grams of hyaluronan in the body. About one third of that hyaluronan is degraded and resynthesized each day.

The molecular structure of hyaluronic acid has many hydroxyl groups which have an affinity to bond with water molecules. Upon bonding, the hyaluronic acid molecule swells as many gel-like structures form about it. You could think of the hyaluronic acid molecule as “holding on” to the water molecules. This gives hyaluronic acid its moisturizing effect.

Skin cells

In skin cells, hyaluronic acid serves helps to hold on to water thereby moisturizing the skin. When a wound happens you would experience your blood clotting over the wound. Underneath this blood clot, hyaluronic acid begins to collect water and form a moist gel. Cells then begin to migrate and start to grow in the gel and granulation tissue is formed. Granulation tissue is new connective tissue with lots of microscopic blood vessels which you can think of as new skin. Growth continues until new skin replaces the wound and the scab falls off.

Joints

Hyaluronic acid is important in the formation of your joint cartilage. It increases the ability of the cartilage to resist compression thereby increasing the cushioning effect of the cartilaginous tissue. Hyaluronic acid is also a major component in synovial fluid and increases the viscosity of the fluid. Synovial fluid is the lubricating fluid between your joints.

Diagram showing hyaluronic acid in cartilage and synovial fluid in joints

Muscles

Your muscles consist of sets of properly assigned muscle fibres that are able to slide across each other during movements that you perform. These muscle fasciae have a type of cell called a fasciacyte which is responsible for creating a hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix surrounding the muscle fascia. This extracellular matrix is a collection of proteins and molecules surrounding the muscle giving it its smooth gliding behaviour.

Diagram showing hyaluronic acid between muscle fascia to assist in smooth muscle movement

Aging

Aging does impact the amount of hyaluronic acid that your body produces. The size of the hyaluronic acid molecules that are produced is also smaller. This affects our skin and joints. Our skin becomes drier, less elastic and more wrinkles will appear. Joints also feel less smooth and you will experience joint tiredness, soreness or pain.

Sodium hyaluronate

Sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. ioula’s formulation uses sodium hyaluronate for its stability and also the ability to treat dry skin more effectively.

Hyaluronic acidSodium hyaluronate
Occurs naturally in bodyA salt of hyaluronic acid after making it react with sodium.
Larger molecule sizeSmaller molecule size
Tends to sit on top of skinCan penetrate deeper into skin
Less stable; more volatileMore stable; less likely to break down or oxidize; longer shelf life.
Generally good for all skin typesBetter for dry, mature skin due to deeper penetration.
A comparison of hyaluronic acid against sodium hyaluronate.

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