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Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Evidence:Strong
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary — consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Evidence-Based Benefits

  • Skin hydration — a 12-week RCT (n=60) found 120 mg/day of oral HA significantly increased skin moisture compared to placebo (Oe et al., 2017)
  • Wrinkle reduction — an RCT (n=60) showed HA supplementation at 120 mg/day reduced wrinkle depth by 40% after 12 weeks compared to placebo (Oe et al., 2017)
  • Skin elasticity — a study (n=72) demonstrated that oral HA at 240 mg/day improved skin elasticity and skin roughness after 12 weeks (Kawada et al., 2014)
  • Wound healing support — HA is integral to the wound healing cascade, with studies showing it promotes fibroblast migration and angiogenesis at wound sites
  • Dry skin relief — a clinical study (n=42) found that 4 weeks of oral HA supplementation significantly improved dry skin symptoms in participants aged 22-59 (Sato et al., 2017)

What the Research Says

Hyaluronic Acid is a well-researched supplement with demonstrated benefits for skin health and certain medical applications. Oe et al. (2017) conducted a landmark double-blind, placebo-controlled study showing that 120 mg/day of low-molecular-weight HA significantly increased skin moisture and reduced wrinkle depth in Japanese adults over 12 weeks. Kawada et al. (2014) similarly demonstrated improvements in skin elasticity and roughness with 240 mg/day. A systematic review by Hsu et al. (2021) concluded that oral HA supplementation consistently improves skin hydration across studies, with molecular weight being a key factor in absorption — low-molecular-weight forms (< 300 kDa) showing superior oral bioavailability.

In addition to its effects on the skin, Hyaluronic Acid has been studied for its role in knee osteoarthritis. A meta-analysis by Du D and Liang Y (2025) of 11 RCTs involving 1023 participants found that combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with HA was more effective than PRP alone for improving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Similarly, Jawanda et al. (2024) conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 48 studies involving 9,338 knees, concluding that intra-articular injections of PRP, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and HA outperformed corticosteroids in improving pain and function scores for knee osteoarthritis at a minimum of 6 months.

Hyaluronic Acid has also shown promise in urology. Roth et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 33 studies, finding that HA improves intravaginal ejaculatory latency, penile girth, glans circumference, and erectile function with rare complications.

Overall, Hyaluronic Acid is supported by robust evidence across multiple applications, including skin health, knee osteoarthritis, and urology.

Related Conditions

Skin HealthWound Healing
Full Hyaluronic Acid Guide

References

  1. RCTOe M, Sakai S, Yoshida H, et al. (2017). Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study over a 12-week period. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. DOI PubMed
  2. ReviewKawada C, Yoshida T, Yoshida H, et al. (2014). Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin. Nutrition Journal. DOI PubMed
  3. Hsu TF, Su ZR, Hsieh YH, et al. (2021). Oral hyaluronan relieves skin dryness and wrinkle: a systematic review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. DOI
  4. Sato T, Sakamoto W, Odanaka W, et al. (2017). Clinical effects of dietary hyaluronic acid on dry, rough skin. Aesthetic Dermatology.
  5. Du D, Liang Y (2025). A meta-analysis and systematic review of the clinical efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma combined with hyaluronic acid (PRP + HA) versus PRP monotherapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).. Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research. DOI PubMed
  6. Li YF, Xing HH, Wei CK, Chen YT, et al. (2025). Platelet-Rich Plasma Is More Effective Than Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Meta-analysis Based on Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trials.. Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association. DOI PubMed
  7. Xu H, Shi W, Liu H, Chai S, et al. (2025). Comparison of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review.. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. DOI PubMed
Show 4 more references
  1. Meta-analysisRoth BJ, Hammad MAM, Sultan MI, Abou Chawareb E, et al. (2025). Hyaluronic acid and urology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Sexual medicine reviews. DOI PubMed
  2. Meta-analysisJawanda H, Khan ZA, Warrier AA, Acuña AJ, et al. (2024). Platelet-Rich Plasma, Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate, and Hyaluronic Acid Injections Outperform Corticosteroids in Pain and Function Scores at a Minimum of 6 Months as Intra-Articular Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.. Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association. DOI PubMed
  3. Migliorini F, Giorgino R, Mazzoleni MG, Schäfer L, et al. (2024). Intra-articular injections of ozone versus hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis: a level I meta-analysis.. European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie. DOI PubMed
  4. Meta-analysisElrosasy A, Abo Zeid M, Hindawi MD, Cadri S, et al. (2024). Efficacy and safety of different hyaluronic acid fillers on cheek volume augmentation: systematic review and network meta-analysis.. Archives of dermatological research. DOI PubMed