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There are many factors known to influence hyaluronic acid levels. Genes are likely to be a factor, but there are many environmental factors that are known to have an impact, including zinc and magnesium availability. Not surprisingly, magnesium and zinc deficiencies are known to be associated with many of the same symptoms associated with hyaluronic acid abnormalities, such as mitral valve prolapse and poor wound healing, respectively. Perhaps this is because the zinc or magnesium deficiency contributes to the hyaluronic acid abnormality, which in turn causes the symptom.

There are a multitude of studies on Medline regarding hyaluronic acid and a wide variety of environmental factors. Here is a sample of some of the interesting ones that relate to connective tissue disorders:

Hyaluronic acid becomes abnormally elevated in the skin of swine who have zinc deficiencies. Magnesium is needed for hyaluronic acid synthesis. Perhaps a lack of magnesium is one of the factors in some connective tissue disorders. Magnesium supplementation is an established treatment for many of the symptoms of connective tissue disorders, such as fibromyalgia, mitral valve prolapse and contractures.

Ascorbic acid can degrade hyaluronic acid. Estrogen treatment increases activity of hyaluronic acid. Estrogen is known to increase utilization of nutrients like magnesium and zinc – nutrients that are known to affect hyaluronic acid levels. Cigarette smoke is known to degrade hyaluronic acid.

In a study of rats, hyaluronic acid turnover and metabolism were affected by age, dietary composition, and caloric intake. If what rats ate affected their hyaluronic acid levels, then this may be a good clue that diet may well affect hyaluronic levels in humans, too. In another study on rats, hyaluronic acid deposition in rat cerebellum is affected by thyroid deficiency, thyroxine treatment and undernutrition. In a study of humans, hyaluronic acid levels were altered by physical activity and food ingestion.

In a study on rats, skin hyaluronic acid concentration was higher than normal in energy deficiency, but below normal levels in prolonged protein deficiency. In rats suffering from prolonged malnutrition, the collagen concentrations are reduced. (Reduced collagen concentrations are also found in some of the connective tissue disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta, as are a plethora of other conditions also associated with hyaluronic acid abnormalities. Not surprisingly, zinc deficits are known to affect hyaluronic acid levels. In a study on rats, among other symptoms, a deficiency in zinc resulted in impaired collagen synthesis.)

Strep and staph bacteria emit an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme which breaks down hyaluronic acid, thus allowing an entry point for the bacteria to enter the body. This may be why people may become hypermobile or develop heart aliments like mitral valve prolapse after illnesses such as rheumatic fever–because the hyaluronic acid in their connective tissue has been degraded by the bacteria that causes their illness.

If animals that are genetically similar to humans such as rats can have reduced collagen levels and hyaluronic acid abnormalities from changes in their diets, then it would be logical to consider diet as a causative factor in people with the hyaluronic acid abnormalities.

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Hyaluronic Acid and Connective Tissue Disorders
The list below contains links to a sample of the studies where subjects with connective tissue disorders have been shown to have hyaluronic acid (HA) abnormalities:

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Marfan syndrome
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Stickler syndrome

Not surprisingly, these disorders all have a lot of overlapping features, and many of these overlapping features, when studied individually, are also linked to hyaluronic acid abnormalities. In every study I looked at for connective tissue disorders that examined hyaluronic acid, the levels were always abnormal in patients with connective tissue disorders.

In human and animal studies, hyaluronic acid abnormalities occur in:

Heart valves with MVP
TMJ
Joint instability
Osteoarthritis
Detached retinas
Muscle contractures
Rachitic skeletal features (pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, scoliosis, bowed limbs, hypermobility, etc.)
Glaucoma
Keratoconus
Poor scar formation (fetuses do not scar because of the high content of HA in amniotic fluid)
Acrogeria (prematurely wrinkled skin)
Fibromyalgia
Premature aging syndromes* (which share many features with connective tissue disorders, especially Ehlers-Danlos)

Hyaluronic acid, or commercial preparations containing hyaluronic acid, are in use, or being studied to be used, to prevent, treat or aid in the surgical repair for many the types of problems people with connective tissue disorders tend to have such as:

Fractures
Hernias
Glaucoma
Keratoconus
Detached retinas
Osteoarthritis (HA injections are the new breakthrough treatment for this condition)
Muscle contractures
TMJ
Prevents scarring
Vocal cord insufficiency
Wrinkled skin
Cartilage damage
Wound healing
Ligament Healing
The list below contains a partial list of common features of several connective tissue disorders. Both the syndromes and the individual features of the syndrome (even when the individual features are studied in the general population, not just in people with genetic disorders), all have links to hyaluronic acid abnormalities.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Use of Hyaluronan Acid in cosmetics

Hyaluronic acid (also called Hyaluronan) is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronan occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems such as joints, heart valves and eyes. Hyaluronic acid abnormalities are a common thread in connective tissue disorders. Interestingly, they are also common biochemical anomalies in most of the individual features of connective tissue disorders such as mitral valve prolapse, TMJ, osteoarthritis, and keratoconus.

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?”. (It should be noted that the people in the ABC news show were thought to get high amounts of HA from starchy root vegetables their natural diets. They were not taking supplements.)

While a number of studies have linked abnormal levels of  Hyaluronic acid to either connective tissue disorders (CTDs) or conditions common in CTDs, such as premature aging, there are also a number of studies on Pubmed noting associations of high levels of  Hyaluronic acid to some forms of cancer. With Hyaluronic acid as with other substances in the human body, such as estrogen and cholesterol, there are most likely optimal levels, and disease often occurs when these levels become out of range in either direction. Low estrogen levels have been linked to bone loss, while high estrogen levels have been associated with breast cancer. High cholesterol levels have been linked to heart attacks and stroke, while low levels have been linked to bleeding problems and depression. Hyaluronic acid has been studied less than either cholesterol or estrogen, but the prudent path would be to assume that the body has optimal levels of  Hyaluronic acid, as it does for cholesterol, estrogen and many other substances.

Use of Hyaluronan Acid in cosmetics

Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient used in many high quality products and has been linked to a role in tissue hydration and dehydration, lubrication, and other aspects of cellular function, along with other vitamins and nutrients in the body.  Hyaluronic Acid  has a half life in the body, in cartilage of two to three weeks, but only one day in the skin.  When synthesis in the body declines people experience discomfort of the joints, wrinkles and many people report more frequent illness, leading many to believe that a constant supply of Hyaluronic Acid is beneficial.  Some scientists believe that it creates a cushion effect between joints of the body and provides more elasticity in the skin, and a softer feel.  Some scientists also believe that it raises the while blood cell count, helping to ward off infection.

Hyaluronic Acid was described as the goo muscle until the late 1970′s, and was simply believed to be a carbohydrate polymer until that time.  It was later discovered that it is one of the main lubricating components of synovial fluid in the body, abundant in extra cellular matrices, and that it contributes to the hydrodynamics of tissue, cell proliferation and movement. Naturally found in many body tissues, Hyaluronan Acid is often used in medical applications such as eye surgery – corneal transplants, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, and retinal detachment repair.  It is also used to treat osteoarthritis in areas such as the knee.  In addition to lubrication and cushioning of joints it has an analgesic effect, and positive effects of cartilage.  In cancer treatment it is used as a tumor marker; particularly in breast cancer and prostate cancer. Use of Hyaluronan Acid in cosmetics is a relatively new use of this substance, but it has been approved by the FDA since 2003 and is becoming increasingly popular.

An interesting side note is the study of a village in Japan, featured on an episode of the ABC newsmagazine 20/20.  People in this village tend to live to be much older than average, and ten percent of the villagers are 85 years of age or older.  The diet of the village people is primarily sticky stanches like sweet potatoes, and it is believed by many people that these foods promote Hyaluronic Acid, which contributes to youthfulness due to the lubricating effects on joints, skin, and the eyes.  While these studies have not been proven, many people find them of interest and research continues.
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We take great pride in the superior quality of our products and want you to be pleased with your purchase. We believe in offering the very best value, quality and selection to our customers. You may return any unused and unopened item purchased from us for any reason within Ninety (90) days of your purchase. Auto-ship sales are final.