Hyaluronic Acid (HA) was first used commercially in 1942 when Endre Balazs applied for a patent to use it as a substitute for egg white in bakery products. He went on to become the leading expert on HA, and made the majority of discoveries concerning HA during the next 50 years.

What is Hyaluronic acid – why is it so important?*

Hyaluronic acid) is a naturally occurring, ubiquitous, safe and non-toxic chemical (1) that is demonstrating surprising results for addressing inflammation and pain. Its principle characteristics include viscoelasticity, high water solubility, extended domain presence in solution and maintenance of cellular and extra cellular homeostasis.

* Lubricates the joints and ligaments 100 times better than any other product.

Orthopedic surgeons, veterinarians, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, general surgeons and even dentists use hyaluronic. It hastens and improves the healing of skin, mucus membranes and bone, and is showing remarkable results when used as a dietary supplement, particularly for patients with arthritic conditions, individuals who are in extreme pain and are waiting to endure back surgery to reduce their suffering, and even to improve the health of skin. Further, this ingredient has an extraordinary safety profile. Within the body it performs and facilitates innumerable basic and essential functions.
Hyaluronic acid, a KEY component of collagen, has been called a “space filler” or support scaffolding for living cells. It makes up much of the material in between cells and provides structure to various organs, such as the eyes, joints and skin.* Hyaluronic acid (HA) is akin to mortar in a brick wall. It holds the bricks (cells) in place. With progressive aging, Hyaluronic Acid breaks down and less and less is naturally produced within the body. Just like mortar is the first component to break down in a brick wall, so collagen degradation produces most of the overt signs of aging in the human body.

See the Benefits, they are amazing:

Known Benefits of LifeSource’s HA:

• Arthritis Relief and Healing
• Increased Mobility
• Softer Skin
• Faster Wound Healing
• Fibromyalgia Relief
• Retinal Lubrication
• Clearer Vision
• Dry Skin Relief
• Dietary Benefits
• Improved Sleep
• Stabilized Emotions
• Reduced Fine Lines
• Improved Vitality
• Hair Growth
• Hair Color Restoration
• Tissue Reconstruction
• Improved Bone Density
• Increased Mental Alertness
• Improved Muscle Strength
• Increased Sexual Potency
• Strengthening of Internal Organs

Comparison: LifeSource’s HA with MSM vs. Conquer HA

LifeSource’s Hyaluronic Acid with Lignisul MSM compared to the popular Conquer HA supplement for maintaining healthy joint functions.. Which is right for you? Please use the following information to help you decide. The following chart contains supplemental facts for 1 daily serving.

The choice really is easy here!

Hyaluronic acid has been nicknamed by the press as the "key to the fountain of youth" because it has been noted that at least some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages. ABC News had a show on a village in Japan and hyaluronic acid entitled, "The Village of Long Life: Could Hyaluronic Acid Be an Anti-Aging Remedy?".
As Hyaluronic Acid is present in every tissue of the body; hyaluronic acid’s importance cannot be underestimated. Retention of water is one of the most important biological functions of hyaluronic acid, second only to providing nutrients and removing waste from cells that do not have a direct blood supply, such as cartilage cells. With a lower than adequate amount of hyaluronic acid, nutrients cannot be moved into these cells and waste cannot be eliminated from cells. Hyaluronic acid is sometimes abbreviated as HA.

Hyaluronic acid is found in the synovial joint fluid, Osteoarthritis is a disease which the majority of Americans, at some point in their life, suffer from. Many different forms of treatment have been developed to try to help people through the pain and discomfort which is associated with osteoarthritis. One of the newer forms of treatment is the replacement of synovial (joint) fluid within arthritic joints. This is helpful because during the progression of arthritis, this synovial fluid breaks down into smaller units, thereby decreasing its lubricating and shock absorbing abilities.

In summary, hyaluronic acid has been found to be beneficial in osteoarthritic knees. There is no explanation as to why some individuals react positively when others do not. However, it has been found that 80 to 85% of individuals who are treated with this series of injections have some amount of pain relief which lasts anywhere from 9 to 12 months.

Cartilage is a specialized form of connective tissue. Hyaline cartilage is the most predominant form of cartilage in the body. It lends strength and flexibility to the body. A key component of cartilage is hyaluronic acid. Cartilage is also avascular – with no blood vessels. Nutrients are brought by the synovial fluid, which is rich in hyaluronic acid to the cartilage, which is also hyaluronic acid rich.
Hyaluronic Acid is also found in the extra cellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is composed of material (fibrous elements, including glycosamino-glycans) produced by the cells and excreted to the extra cellular space with the tissues. All nutrients and metabolic waste are transported through the ECM. Hyaluronic acid is a major constituent of the ECM and serves as an essential structural element of the ECM. Hyaluronic acid locks moisture into the ECM and hyaluronic acid supports the structural integrity of the extra cellular matrix.
In the skin, the extra cellular matrix is composed of hyaluronic acid and other sulfated GAGs, combined with collagen and elastin. Large amounts of water are held in the ECM. When elastin is not bathed in water, it becomes dry and brittle, thus the look of dry, brittle, wrinkled skin.1
Half-life is defined as the time required for one half of the total amount of a particular substance to be consumed, broken down, or depleted. The half-life of hyaluronic acid in the cartilage is 2-3 weeks. But the half-life of hyaluronic acid in the skin is less than 1 day! Hyaluronic acid is present in both the dermis and the epidermis. 50% of the body’s naturally produced hyaluronic acid that is found in the epidermis is metabolized and excreted in less than 24 hours. Like hyaluronic acid produced in the body, hyaluronic acid taken as a nutritional supplement moisturizes from the dermis to the epidermis - from deeper layers of the skin to the outer layer.

The extra cellular matrix fills up the space between the skin cells. This makes the skin soft, smooth and elastic. But as we age, hyaluronic content in the skin changes due to two separate clinically proven factors.

1. There is a decrease in synthesis of hyaluronic acid.
2. Recompartmentalization – from the epidermis to the dermis.

Both changes leave the epidermis depleted in hyaluronic acid resulting in thinning, aging, and decreased moisture in the skin.
Hyaluronic acid occurs in abundant amounts in many of the places people with connective tissue disorders have problems such as the joints, the eyes, the skin and heart valves. Hyaluronic acid is needed to cushion and lubricate joints, eyes, skin and heart valves.

People with connective tissue disorders and related features all seem to have abnormalities of hyaluronic acid. In every study I found that analyzed hyaluronic acid levels in people with connective tissue disorders or related disorders, when compared to controls they always had hyaluronic acid abnormalities.
HA is influenced by nutrition and other environmental factors. Many of the features of premature aging syndromes and connective tissue disorders are also known to be caused by nutritional deficiencies, and not surprisingly these are often the same nutritional factors that influence the manufacture of hyaluronic acid. My theory is that this is not all one big coincidence. Logically, it is more likely to be a predictable sequence of causes and effects.
Hyaluronic acid is being used commercially or experimentally to correct a large portion of the problems found in connective tissue disorders such as fractures, eye disorders, poor wound healing and prematurely wrinkled skin. It would be highly logical to consider the possibility that hyaluronic acid works to correct these problems because defects or deficiencies of hyaluronic acid are what cause these problems in the first place.

Perhaps controlling or optimizing the environmental factors, such as modifying ones diet, to optimize hyaluronic acid levels would be helpful in treating many inherited connective tissue disorders and premature aging syndrome.

Dr. Gina L. Nick
President, California Naturopathic Doctors Association