TOKYO—Kewpie Corporation’s hyaluronate compound Hyabest® can effectively increase skin moisture when ingested. (Nutrition Journal. 2014, Jul. Online. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-70)

Recent research proved that daily oral intake of hyaluronan for just over a month not only counters the loss of skin moisture, but guards against skin depredation due to age and ultra violet radiation. Moreover, it demonstrated that oral intake incites the body’s own resources to produce increased amounts of natural HA.

The mucopolysaccharide hyaluronic acid (HA) was first identified in the 1930s as residing throughout body tissues and intracellular fluids, contributing to cell health and regeneration, particularly in the maintenance of moisture levels. It accounted for the smooth functioning of major joints, maintaining the condition of the eye’s vitreous humor and more. By the early 1940s it had been synthesized and was being commercially produced for multiple purposes, including topical applications and enhancing food texture.

Internally taken, HA was suggested as a palliative for osteoarthritis and a variety of other conditions, but evidence of its effectiveness was largely anecdotal. Kewpie began its intensive research phase in the early 1980s, culminating in recent studies specifically citing Kewpie’s Hyabest line of supplemental products as the only hyaluronate compound to offer documentation of its effectiveness in increasing skin moisture. This ultimately led to the development of food-grade Hyabest®(S)LF-P, the most versatile form of hyaluronan available for supplementation to date.

In 2013, the proven effectiveness of Hyabest®(S)LF-P was advanced to the next level with the delivery of a trailblazing study to the International Society for Hyaluronan Sciences conference, held in Oklahoma City, which defined HA’s role in suppressing the decrease in moisture volume and resultant wrinkle formation associated with ultraviolet radiation (Hyabest (S) LF-P vs. UV irradiation contagion on skin) as a result of daily oral intake.

Representatives of Kewpie will be on hand at Supply Side West this October (Booth 18101 Mitsubishi International Food Ingredient) to answer questions about this study.

Previous research also shows HA can suppress damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet rays, including wrinkle formation and skin dryness.