HA in Medicine and Nutrition
As of 2006, the most widely used type of injectable, HA-based fillers is non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA).
Two of the best-known injectable brands are Restylane® and Captique®.
NASHA is made in a rather sophisticated way. Bioengineered bacteria produce HA that is nearly identical to that found in human skin. NASHA is then purified and treated with a cross-linking agent, which converts it into a stable, firm gel. Finally, the HA gel is dispersed in microspheres to make it easily injectable. Depending on the degree of cross-linking and the size of the microspheres, the products are used for different cosmetic purposes. One type is for moderate wrinkles and lip enhancement. Another is for deep lines, facial contouring, and lip enhancement. Yet a third type is for very thin superficial lines. A SubQ type is designed to replace fat loss in the face and create or restore a more defined facial contour.
NASHA costs around $500-$600 per cc (cubic centimeter). A typical amount per treatment is from 3/4 to 2 cc ($375^1,200). To maintain results, the treatment has to be repeated every 6-12 months. The HA-based fillers of animal origin tend to be about 20-30 percent less expensive than NASHA. Some experts maintain that they are less durable than NASHA. Really, there isn’t enough published data for a good durabilitycomparison.
If you have osteoarthritis, the level of HA in your joint fluid is lower. So the joint fluid is less protective because it’s thinner and less sticky. Three slightly different types of manufactured HA are available for the knee and osteoarthritis: Check with your doctor to find out which is right for you.
Oral and Topical Supplements
Because of the high cost of injections, many consumers are opting to use oral and topical HA formulas. We think this is great. As we say HA in any form is beneficial.
But you must be sure to purchase bio-identical high molecular weight HA like the kind used in the medical applications. This is by far the superior form of HA.
You will see cheaper products, but do not be fooled. Much has been made of new low molecular weight (LMW) HA from collagen type II. We’ve seen this type of HA in many different preparations, but we think your money would be better invested in bio-identical HA that is prepared in a similar manner to the HA that doctors use in injections. We’re sure there are some benefits to low molecular weight preparations and they may even be absorbed better. The problem is, however, that they aren’t as viscous (thick), so they don’t hold water as well—remember, bio-identical HA holds over one thousand times its weight in water— to hydrate your skin, cushion your joints and eyes, and facilitate the transport of nutrients, toxins, and gases through the loose connective tissues of your body. The high molecular weight has all the “reeds” necessary to hold in water.
Also, low molecular weight HA looks less expensive, is only about 9-12 percent pure HA, so you get less HA per ounce. Bio-identical HA has over 90 percent HA in each dose. A lower dose of bio-identical HA delivers more of the fully functional form like that used in the body.
Buying LMW HA is like buying motor oil with the consistency of water just because it pours into the oil filler cap easier. Don’t do this to your own body. Stay with the quality and proven form of HA and you will receive the amazing benefits we have told you about.