抄録
Hyaluronic acid has found extensive applications for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and supplements due to its excellent characteristics, such as moisture-retaining ability, viscoelasticity and wound healing functions. Incorporation in health food products, including supplements, constitutes a major use of hyaluronic acid and recently it has been introduced into general foods such as gums, candies, jellies, drinks and dressings, to facilitate their intake. Accordingly, it has become more important to elucidate effects of oral administration of hyaluronic acid. Therefore, we have focused on beneficial influence for the condition of the skin, and its behavior in the body. A human trial with oral administration of hyaluronic acid at more than 120 mg per day demonstrated improvement of dryness of the skin, itchiness, erosion and exfoliation. Furthermore, orally administrated hyaluronic acid was found to be metabolized in the liver, followed by transfer of metabolites to the skin.
