Hyaluronic acid can only be absorbed after gut bacteria break it down into smaller pieces; in a study, mice with no gut bacteria absorbed none of the supplement.

New research from 2023 shows that expensive, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid is broken down in the stomach, so there's no reason to specifically buy that form.

The speaker recommends sodium hyaluronate at a 200 milligram dose, citing its enhanced stability, solubility, and its common use in clinical trials.

To get an objective measure of wrinkles, researchers apply a chemical to make a mold of the skin, which is then peeled off and scanned.

The skin benefits from oral hyaluronic acid are not from the molecule reaching the skin directly, but from the indirect effects of its metabolites created after digestion.

While lab studies on cancer cells raised concerns, studies in mice with existing cancer found that oral hyaluronic acid supplements did not accelerate tumor growth.

Even after being broken down by the gut, the bioavailability of oral hyaluronic acid is extremely low, with only about 0.2% being absorbed.