Hyaluronic Acid

Last updated: Nov 19, 2009

	Hyaluronic Acid

 

Hyaluronic Acid can help with the following:

	Musculo-Skeletal   Osteoarthritis   The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) in osteoarthritis has been found to be effective in terms of relieving pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and may potentially be a structure-modifying drug. Results of a study of 100 patients with OA of the knee who were treated with five weekly injections of intra-articular HA demonstrated significant improvement in terms of pain on walking at week five, which persisted for six months in two-thirds of patients. [Rheumatology 1999; 38: pp.602-607]   Knee Pain   Physicians have injected hyaluronic acid directly into the synovial fluid in the knee as a treatment for osteoarthritis for the last 20+ years. There are many peer-reviewed articles written on the use of hyaluronic acid for this purpose. Further study is needed, as it remains to be proven that there is clear clinical benefit. Please see the link between knee pain and Glucosamine. In a meta-analysis of eight hyaluronan trials involving 971 patients, outcomes in patients treated with hyaluronan were superior to outcomes in patients treated with placebo at the end of the treatment cycles and after six months. [Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:pp. 637-40] Treatment is expensive. For a package of three prefilled syringes of Synvisc, the average wholesale price is $620.00. Third-party reimbursement is variable, but Medicare and most insurance companies now cover viscosupplementation. Skin-Hair-Nails   Concern Over Wrinkled Skin   Hyaluronic acid injections can improve the skin's contour and reduce depressions in the skin due to acne, scars, injury or lines. This augmentation usually lasts between 6-9 months. This effect seems to last considerably longer than collagen implants.

KEY

		May do some good
		Highly recommended