HA Content in the Body

HA is an essential component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape, structure, and function of the skin. As we age, our metabolism slows, and the body’s ability to synthesize HA decreases. This reduction particularly affects the skin and joints.

On one hand, collagen and elastic fibers in the skin lack sufficient moisture, leading to a loss of elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles. On the other hand, the decrease in HA in joint fluid reduces the protective effects on cartilage, which can lead to joint pain, limited mobility, and even arthritis.

Fig 1. HA Content in the Body

Can Food-Grade Hyaluronic Acid Be Absorbed by the Body

The answer is Yes.

Oral HA is primarily absorbed through the intestines, where it is broken down by enzymes into smaller fragments. Some HA molecules are further broken down into smaller HA fragments or monosaccharides, which then enter the bloodstream. These fragments still help provide hydration and lubrication to the body.

Fig 2. Absorption of oral HA[i]

As shown in Figure 2, intestinal microbes degrade HA, which is then transported to the liver for metabolism or to other tissues like the skin, joints, and eyes. Excess HA is excreted from the body.

Reading more: Consuming Hyaluronic Acid to Prevent Joint Pain

Benefits of Food-Grade Hyaluronic Acid

Since HA can be transported to the skin, joints, and eyes, it has positive effects on their health.

1. Increasing Skin Hydration

HA has a powerful ability to retain moisture, which helps the skin stay hydrated, soft, and elastic. Oral HA can increase the skin’s water content, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and making the skin appear younger. Additionally, HA supports the skin’s natural barrier, helping protect against external irritants.

Fig 3. Comparison of food-grade HA before and after consumption

Related products:

2. Lubricating Joints

HA serves as a lubricant in joint fluid, reducing friction between joints and improving movement. Oral HA can raise HA levels within the joints, helping relieve pain and discomfort caused by arthritis. HA also has mild anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce inflammation around joints and delay joint degeneration.

Fig 4. The role of HA in joints

3. Relieving Eye Dryness

HA is a key component of the eye’s vitreous body and tear fluid, helping keep the eyes moist and reducing dry eye symptoms. HA supplements can relieve eye dryness and irritation, especially for people who use electronic devices for extended periods or wear contact lenses. Its moisturizing and lubricating effects help reduce eye strain and blurry vision, enhancing clarity.

4. Promoting Overall

Health Besides benefiting skin, joints, and eyes, food-grade HA also supports general health.

• Boosting the Immune System: HA helps support immunity and accelerates wound healing.
• Supporting Gut Health: HA helps repair the intestinal mucosa, aiding in maintaining a healthy digestive system.
• Antioxidant Protection: HA has antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals, reducing cell damage and slowing aging.

Conclusion

Food-grade hyaluronic acid offers a natural way to support skin hydration, joint lubrication, and eye moisture, benefiting those who seek an internal approach to health and wellness. Regular intake of HA supplements can enhance these areas and contribute to overall well-being. As with any supplement, consult a healthcare professional to ensure it’s right for your needs and fits well within a balanced health regimen.

Stanford Chemical Company (SCC) is the leading wholesale supplier of pure organic hyaluronic acid in the United States. Our products include high, medium, and low molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate powders. Of course, we also support custom molecular weights. If you are interested, welcome to get a quote.

Our products have obtained relevant certifications, which show their safety.

• ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
• ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)
• ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System)

[i] Zheng X, Wang B, Tang X, Mao B, Zhang Q, Zhang T, Zhao J, Cui S, Chen W. Absorption, metabolism, and functions of hyaluronic acid and its therapeutic prospects in combination with microorganisms: A review. Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Jan 1;299:120153. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120153. Epub 2022 Sep 26. PMID: 36876779.

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Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a general term that includes several compounds with similar biological activities, such as retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid.

Retinol is the most common and fundamental form of vitamin A. Retinol can be metabolized in the body to form retinal, which plays a crucial role in vision, helping the eyes adapt to different lighting conditions.

Retinoic acid is mainly involved in cell growth and differentiation, contributing to skin health, immune function, and gene expression. Overall, the benefits of VA include:

• Preventing night blindness and vision loss, aiding in the treatment of various eye diseases;
• Helping prevent respiratory system infections;
• Supporting normal immune system function;
• Promoting faster recovery during illness;
• Maintaining healthy tissues and organs;
• Helping the skin resist aging and improving skin texture;
• Supporting growth, strengthening bones, and maintaining healthy skin, hair, teeth, and gums;
• Aiding in the treatment of emphysema and hyperthyroidism.

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B complex refers to a group of vitamins, including vitamin B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), and B12.

The B vitamins work synergistically, meaning that taking all the B vitamins together is more effective than taking them individually. Also, if the intake ratios of B1, B2, and B6 are uneven (e.g., 50mg of B1, 50mg of B2, and 50mg of B6), their effectiveness may be reduced. Although the different B vitamins work together in many metabolic and physiological processes, they have distinct physiological functions and benefits.

Table 1. Summary of the effects of members of the B vitamin family

Vitamin C

The chemical name for vitamin C is ascorbic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin and one of the most well-known nutrients. Not only is it a beauty elixir, but it is also an antioxidant that protects cells and even has anti-cancer properties. VC is commonly found in fruits and vegetables but can be easily degraded by external environmental changes.

Benefits of VC:

• Enhances skin elasticity and prevents age spots;
• Promotes wound healing, treats external injuries, burns, and gum bleeding, and speeds up post-surgical recovery;
• Prevents viral and bacterial infections and boosts immune system function;
• Lowers cholesterol levels in the blood and reduces the risk of venous thrombosis;
• Treats and prevents common colds;
• Reduces the effects of many allergy-causing substances;
• Helps with iron absorption and folic acid breakdown, preventing scurvy;
• Helps prevent the formation of the carcinogen nitrosamine, providing anti-cancer benefits;
• Promotes collagen production, preventing aging and prolonging life.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a term that encompasses a group of fat-soluble vitamins, primarily including D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting healthy bones and teeth.

Cholecalciferol (D3) is one of the main forms of vitamin D and is synthesized by the skin when exposed to sunlight. It can also be obtained from certain animal foods and supplements.

Benefits of VD:

• Enhances the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, strengthening bones and teeth;
• Supports growth and development, helping infants and young children grow properly and preventing rickets;
• Assists in the absorption of VA;
• Helps prevent calcium loss and osteoporosis during menopause.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E refers to a group of fat-soluble compounds, with tocopherols and tocotrienols being the most common. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and supporting immune function and skin health.

Benefits of VE:

• Delays cellular aging, moisturizes the skin, reduces pigmentation, and maintains a youthful appearance
• Cleanses the blood and lowers LDL cholesterol levels, preventing atherosclerosis;
• Promotes the formation of healthy red blood cells and prevents blood clotting;
• Lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease;
• Enhances liver detoxification, protects the body, and reduces fatigue;
• Stimulates the secretion of sex hormones, improves fertility, and prevents miscarriage.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K, often called the “clotting vitamin,” is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms, including K1 (phylloquinone or plant-based phylloquinone), K2 (menaquinone), and K3 (menadione). Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone health, primarily promoting the synthesis of blood clotting factors to help prevent excessive bleeding.

Vitamin P

Vitamin P, commonly known as rutin or bioflavonoids, is not strictly a vitamin but is often classified as one. Vitamin P is a water-soluble nutrient that the body cannot synthesize, so it must be obtained from food. It is essential for the digestion and absorption of VC, reduces capillary fragility, decreases vascular permeability, enhances the activity of VC, and helps prevent cerebral hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, and purpura.

Conclusion

In summary, vitamins are crucial for health, each with unique benefits:

VA supports vision and skin, the B complex aids metabolism, VC boosts immunity, VD strengthens bones, VE protects cells, and Vitamin K aids blood clotting. Ensuring a balanced intake helps maintain overall well-being.

Stanford Chemical Company (SCC) has over 16 years of experience in the manufacture and distribution of phytochemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates, catalysts and more. Our products include hyaluronic acid, herbal extracts, food additives, nutraceutical ingredients and so on, totaling nearly 800 products. Feel free to Get A Quote to learn more if you are interested.

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1. Hydration and Moisture Retention

Whether your skin is dry, oily, or a mix of both, moisturizing has proven to be an unavoidable routine in skincare. Hydration is also essential for skin barrier integrity. Below are some of the most popular common moisturizing ingredients available in the market.

Fig 1. Moisturizing is the first step in skin care

（1）Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid has been basking in skincare fame for over 30 years because of the mighty skincare benefits it possesses. Being an excellent humectant, it can absorb and retain many times-more than 1,000 times its weight in water. Besides that, it forms a defensive layer on the skin surface which protects water from evaporating too fast.

（2）Polyglutamic Acid

For those looking for an alternative to hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid is an excellent choice. It can capture more moisture than hyaluronic acid, twice as much. It penetrates deeper into the skin, stimulating natural moisturizing factors. Another big plus is that this product has low viscosity, contributing to less stickiness and freshness in the skin.

（3）Glycerin

Glycerin is an active humectant that attracts moisture from the surroundings and locks it in the skin to help maintain the moisture balance of the skin. This prevents dryness and dehydration, hence it maintains soft and smooth skin. It also enhances the absorption of active skincare ingredients.

（4）Panthenol

Also known as vitamin B5, panthenol is an active moisturizer that attracts and retains water in the skin and forms a protective layer on the skin’s surface to prevent water loss.

2. Anti-Aging and Anti-Wrinkle

With growing age, skin slowly starts to lose its elasticity and firmness. Collagen and elastin production decelerates, which eventually leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Moreover, UV rays, pollution, and stress accelerate the aging process of the skin. Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle ingredients improve not only one’s appearance but also care for the health of the skin by minimizing possible external damage.

Fig 2. Anti-wrinkle makes us look younger

（1）Retinol

Retinol is probably the star of the anti-aging world. Such an ingredient increases the production of collagen within the skin, which will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Moreover, such a vitamin accelerates cell turnover, promoting new skin cell generation. The process will improve the skin texture and tone by getting rid of dark blemishes.

（2）Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant with great power that neutralizes free radicals, protecting the skin from environmental damage such as UV rays. It enhances the production of collagen, which in turn gives skin elasticity, hence reducing fine lines. Vitamin C further brightens the skin, reducing pigmentation and helping the skin have a more youthful look.

（3）Peptides

Peptides are small protein fragments that easily penetrate the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production. The peptides will strengthen the structure of the skin; fine lines and wrinkles are reduced effectively, and firmness and elasticity are enhanced. Besides, it enhances the skin barrier function and generally increases the health of the skin while making it fuller.

（4）Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that shields skin cells from free radical damage, thereby providing a considerable reduction in the appearance of environmental stressors that contribute to aging. It boosts the energy at a cellular level by increasing the manufacture of ATP, enhancing the repair and regeneration of cells, thereby reducing fine lines and wrinkles, or at least diminishing their appearance. The skin turgor will also be much improved.

（5）Resveratrol

Resveratrol is an antioxidant plant extract that has an excellent anti-aging effect. It scavenges the free radicals, thus avoiding skin damage from oxidative stress and inflammation, which contributes to early aging. Continuous use of resveratrol diminishes the appearance of fine lines while improving skin smoothness and firmness.

（6）Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is an astoundingly strong natural antioxidant, way more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E. It significantly reduces UV damage, preventing photoaging. By improving skin hydration, it improves elasticity and reduces wrinkles, thus leaving the skin smoother.

（7）Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid is an effective antioxidant; besides neutralizing free radicals, it regenerates other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, hence enhancing the anti-aging effect by increasing the density. It minimizes inflammation, fine lines, and wrinkles, hence enhancing skin tone and brightness.

（8）Vitamin E

It is a classic antioxidant that helps protect the skin from oxidative stress while delaying the aging process. Vitamin E helps to repair broken skin cells and firm up the skin barrier, reducing occurrences of fine lines and wrinkles.

Read more: Hyaluronic Acid vs. Retinol vs. Vitamin C: Which Is Best for Skincare?

3. Skin Repair

When the skin barrier is compromised, it will release moisture more easily and become exposed to more external irritants. This generally means more inflammation and dry sensitivity. Hence, skin repair is another important step of skin care.

Fig 3. Repair skin damage and make skin healthier

（1）Centella Asiatica Extract

Centella Asiatica is one of the major ingredients in skin repair. It contains various components like asiaticoside-the major phenolic compound responsible for scar healing. Centella Asiatica enhances the production of collagen and reduces inflammation by regenerating and improving skin elasticity of the destroyed skin barrier.

（2）Ceramides

Ceramides are natural constituents of the skin barrier. They repair damaged lipid barriers, reducing skin irritations due to dryness. The ceramides help your skin protect against external irritants and pollutants-softening the skin and making it supple.

（3）Allantoin

Allantoin is an active repairing ingredient well known for its soothing action, as well as cell regeneration. It soothes itching, redness, and roughness occurring due to dryness while allowing the stimulation of the healing process and thus leaving the skin smooth and soft.

（4）Squalane

It is an emollient agent, just like the skin’s natural oils. Squalane improves the barrier integrity of skin, restores dry and injured skin, and exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thus decreasing skin irritation.

Among the above ingredients, hyaluronic acid and panthenol have prominent skin-repairing properties. Hyaluronic acid especially accelerates wound healing.

4. Acne Treatment

Acne is one of the fundamental skin problems brought about by blockage of pores, production of excess oil, and infection. Treatment of acne also enables you to maintain healthy skin.

Fig 4. Causes of acne: clogged pores, excess oil production, and infection

（1）Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid; it is also lipid-soluble, which allows it to penetrate into the pores and dissolve excess oil and dead skin cells that block pores in the first instance. This helps reduce and prevent acne, while it also gently exfoliates the surface of the skin to improve the rough texture associated with acne. Its anti-inflammatory properties further help reduce redness and swelling associated with acne.

（2）Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is an AHA, which accelerates cell turnover, removing the superficial layer of dead skin cells, thus avoiding clogged pores and acne breakouts. It also improves post-acne pigmentation and scarring by improving skin texture and evening out the skin.

（3）Benzoyl Peroxide

The active ingredient benzoyl peroxide is a very potent anti-acne ingredient that truly delivers deep into the pores and kills acne-causing bacteria, such as Propionibacterium acnes. It also exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells and oil within the pores, which helps them not to get blocked and, therefore, prevents new acne.

（4）Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural ingredient incorporating antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties into its effectiveness in battling acne-causing bacteria and reducing inflammation and redness. Gentle on the skin, it provides antibacterial action that helps purify the skin and decreases bacterial build-up inside the pores.

Conclusion

Being aware of the various benefits of different skincare ingredients will enable you to know exactly which products to choose based on specific needs. Understanding what ingredients suit your skin type and needs better enables you to tailor an effective skincare routine that resolves any hydration concerns, anti-aging, repair, or treatment of acne for healthier and more radiant-looking skin.

Stanford Chemicals Company (SCC) has over 16 years of experience in the manufacture and sale of skin care and personal care ingredients. We offer skin care ingredient raw materials to meet a variety of skin care needs.

Table 1. List of Common Skincare Ingredients

The post Common Skin Care Ingredients You Need to Know appeared first on Stanford Chemicals.

Hyaluronic acid is a popular skincare ingredient known for its ability to retain moisture and improve skin texture. It is a naturally occurring polysaccharide that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Due to its water-binding properties, hyaluronic acid is commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products such as serums, creams, and lotions.

Maintaining the stability of hyaluronic acid products is crucial to ensure their effectiveness and safety. In this article, we will discuss how to maintain the stability of hyaluronic acid products at different temperatures, in water solutions, and in organic solvents. Proper storage conditions and quality control systems are also of great significance.

Chemical Structure of HA

1. Preserve Hyaluronic Acid Products at Ideal Temperatures

Hyaluronic acid products can be affected by temperature changes, which can lead to degradation or denaturation of the molecule. It is essential to preserve them in a cool and dry place.

The ideal storage temperature for hyaluronic acid products is between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. At this temperature range, hyaluronic acid remains stable and can retain its molecular weight and water-binding properties. However, if the temperature rises above 25 degrees Celsius, the molecule can become denatured, resulting in a loss of its effectiveness.

2. Maintain Hyaluronic Acid Stability in Water-Based Solutions

Hyaluronic acid is extensively employed in water-based solutions, such as serums and toners. When hyaluronic acid is mixed with water, it can form a gel-like substance due to its water-binding properties. Nevertheless, hyaluronic acid can be sensitive to pH changes, which can affect its stability.

The ideal pH range for hyaluronic acid solutions is 5.0 to 8.0. Solutions with a pH outside of this range can cause the molecule to become unstable and lose its water-binding properties. To maintain the stability of hyaluronic acid in water solutions, it is significant to keep them in a proper place as mentioned above. You can check the figure below for more information on the impact of temperature and pH on the stability of HA.

Effects of Temperature and PH on the Activity and Stability of Hyaluronic Acid [1]

3. Ensure Hyaluronic Acid Stability in Organic Solvents

Hyaluronic acid can also be used in organic solvents, such as ethanol and propylene glycol. In organic solvents, HA can form a clear and stable solution due to its solubility in polar solvents. Yet, its stability can be affected by changes in the solvent concentration and pH.

Therefore, it is important to use high-quality solvents and avoid drastic changes in the solvent concentration or pH to maintain HA’s stability. It is also crucial to keep them under suitable storage conditions.

4. Store Hyaluronic Acid Products in Proper Conditions

To maintain the stability of hyaluronic acid products of the same batch, the guidelines below should be followed:

• Put HA away from light and heat sources, and find a dry and clean place for them.
• Keep hyaluronic acid products in their original containers to prevent contamination.
• Do not freeze these products, as this can cause the molecule to denature.
• Avoid exposing HA to air, as this can cause oxidation and degradation of the molecule.
• Check the expiration date before use to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

5. Implement a Quality Control System for HA Products

Hyaluronic acid products can vary from batch to batch due to variations in the raw materials, manufacturing processes, and storage conditions. These variations can affect the stability and effectiveness of the product.

To maintain the stability of HA products of different batches, it is essential to establish a quality control system that includes batch testing and analysis. This system should include the following:

• Raw material testing: Raw materials should be tested for purity and quality to ensure that they meet the specified standards.
• Manufacturing process control: The manufacturing process should be controlled to ensure that it is consistent from batch to batch.
• Batch testing and analysis: Each batch of hyaluronic acid products should be tested and analyzed for their quality, purity, and stability.

Conclusion

Maintaining the stability of hyaluronic acid products is crucial to ensure their effectiveness and safety. Temperature changes, pH changes, solvent concentration, and storage conditions can all affect the stability of HA. Stanford Chemicals Company (SCC) has rich experience in the manufacturing of HA. All these quality hyaluronic acid products are kept with great caution. Send us an inquiry if you are interested.

Reference:

[1] Zhu, Changliang & Zhang, Jingliang & Li, Liyan & Zhang, Jing & Jiang, Yanhui & Shen, Zhaopeng & Guan, Huashi & Jiang, Xiaolu. (2017). Purification and Characterization of Hyaluronate Lyase from Arthrobacter globiformis A152. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 182. 10.1007/s12010-016-2321-3.

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