How a supplement might work without being absorbed
Molecular weight and gut microbiota determine the bioavailability of orally administered hyaluronic acid.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hyaluronan’s benefits in humans may come entirely from gut bacteria-produced short-chain fatty acids, not from hyaluronan reaching the skin or joints.
Most consumers and marketers claim hyaluronan supplements work by directly hydrating skin or lubricating joints—this study says that’s biologically implausible.
Practical Takeaways
Consider supporting gut bacteria like Bacteroides spp. with fiber-rich foods (e.g., legumes, whole grains) to potentially enhance hyaluronan breakdown.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hyaluronan’s benefits in humans may come entirely from gut bacteria-produced short-chain fatty acids, not from hyaluronan reaching the skin or joints.
Most consumers and marketers claim hyaluronan supplements work by directly hydrating skin or lubricating joints—this study says that’s biologically implausible.
Practical Takeaways
Consider supporting gut bacteria like Bacteroides spp. with fiber-rich foods (e.g., legumes, whole grains) to potentially enhance hyaluronan breakdown.
Publication
Journal
Carbohydrate polymers
Year
2023
Authors
Matěj Šimek, Kristyna Turkova, M. Schwarzer, K. Nešporová, L. Kubala, M. Hermannová, Tereza Foglová, B. Šafránková, Martin Sindelar, D. Šrůtková, S. Chatzigeorgiou, Tereza Novotná, T. Hudcovic, V. Velebný
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Claims (6)
Your gut bacteria turn the hyaluronic acid you swallow into tiny pieces that your body can absorb; if you don’t have those bacteria, your body can’t absorb anything from it.
When mice swallow hyaluronan, almost none of it gets into their bloodstream whole—just a tiny bit—so any effects they feel probably come from gut bacteria breaking it down, not from the original substance.
In mice, certain good bacteria in the gut called Bacteroides are needed to turn a substance from the mouth called hyaluronan into tiny pieces that the body can absorb.
When your body doesn’t absorb certain pieces of hyaluronan (a substance found in joints and skin), your gut bacteria break them down into tiny fatty acids—and in mice, these fatty acids are the only things your body gets from those bacteria.
If you take hyaluronic acid pills, it might help your skin stay healthier and less red by feeding good gut bacteria that send calming signals to your skin.