{
  "slug": "hyaluronic-acid",
  "name": "Hyaluronic Acid (oral)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "Sodium Hyaluronate",
    "HA",
    "Oral HA",
    "Hyaluronan",
    "Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)",
    "GMP-Hyaluronan®",
    "Injuv®",
    "Mobilee®",
    "Hyabest®"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Acts as a water-binding glycosaminoglycan that retains moisture in the extracellular matrix of skin and connective tissue",
    "Low-molecular-weight (<300 kDa) oral HA is partially absorbed in the gut and tracer studies (animal) show distribution to skin and joint tissue, where it may serve as a substrate/signal for endogenous HA and collagen synthesis",
    "Research-context: signaling through CD44 and TLR4 receptors and modulation of NF-kB / fibroblast activity has been proposed as a mechanism for skin and gut effects (mechanistic / preclinical evidence)",
    "High-molecular-weight (>1000 kDa) HA is thought to act primarily through barrier hydration and joint lubrication rather than systemic absorption"
  ],
  "target": [
    "CD44 (HA receptor)",
    "TLR4",
    "COL2A1 / collagen synthesis pathways",
    "Dermal extracellular matrix",
    "Synovial fluid / joint matrix"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "Skin hydration and barrier support (research-context: most consistent evidence)",
    "Skin elasticity and visible signs of aging",
    "Beauty-from-within / oral cosmetic supplementation",
    "Joint comfort support (research-context: human data largely from combination formulas, not HA monotherapy)",
    "Glycosaminoglycan replenishment associated with aging"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "SKIN",
    "MUSCULO",
    "VISION",
    "GUT"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "A",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 3,
  "dosage_range": "80-240 mg/day oral (commonly standardized at 120 mg/day); China and EU recommend a maximum of 200 mg/day. Low-molecular-weight HA (<300 kDa) is associated with higher oral bioavailability in research.",
  "safety_notes": "Generally well tolerated; rare mild digestive discomfort. Short-term tolerance up to 960 mg/day in trials; 200 mg/day for 12 months without adverse effects (JFRL). No known significant drug interactions. China mandates an unsuitable-population label: infants/toddlers, pregnant and breastfeeding women. Pregnancy/lactation human data are insufficient — advise consulting a physician. Microbial-fermentation source is vegan-friendly and essentially allergen-free; rooster-comb (animal) source requires poultry-allergy and animal-origin labeling.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "Dietary supplement ingredient; multiple self-affirmed GRAS and NDI notifications (e.g., Injuv, BioCell Collagen) with no FDA objection. Structure/function claims allowed with mandatory disclaimer: \"This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.\"",
    "efsa": "Approved as a Novel Food ingredient (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283), sodium hyaluronate from microbial fermentation, max 200 mg/day in food supplements. NO authorized Article 13/14 health claim — function claims are prohibited; EU sales rely on ingredient/source statements only.",
    "anvisa": "Status unclear / gray area — oral HA is not explicitly listed on the Suplemento Alimentar positive list (IN no. 28/2018); injectable medical-device and topical-cosmetic routes are established. Oral entry requires case-by-case evaluation (RDC 239/2018); embedding HA within a collagen complex is the suggested lower-risk path."
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/hyaluronic-acid/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "skin-beauty",
    "joint-bone"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "menopause"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}