Hyaluronic acid supplements with the fewest additives
Hyaluronic acid may help fight osteoarthritis, minimize signs of aging, and more. However, many brands contain more than just the acid itself. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, magnesium stearate or stearic acid for easier manufacturing, hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) as an emulsifier or thickener, and titanium dioxide for whitening.
I try to avoid these additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, my recommendations for the purest hyaluronic acid supplements are:
Recommended for a no-additive hyaluronic acid liquid:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- titanium dioxide-free
Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid produced by bacterial fermentation, high molecular weight), normal saline.
Hyalogic has a page about the absorption of their high molecular weight form.
Recommended for a minimal-additive hyaluronic acid capsule:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- titanium dioxide-free
- may contain hypromellose / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Hyaluronic acid (low molecular weight), hypo-allergenic plant fiber (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), vegetarian capsule (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, water).
Recommended for a straight hyaluronic acid powder:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- titanium dioxide-free
Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate).
Other hyaluronic acid supplements
The following are other hyaluronic acid supplements I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| California Gold Nutrition Hyaluronic Acid (Veggie Caps) | Hyaluronic acid (from sodium hyaluronate), L-Proline, alpha lipoic acidj, grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera, standardized for polyphenols), cellulose (capsule), rice flour, magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silica. |
| California Natural HA Hyaluronic Acid Formula (Gelcaps) | Biocell Collagen Type II, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, rice powder, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), gelatin and water (capsule). |
| Doctor's Best Best Hyaluronic Acid with Chondroitin Sulfate (Capsules) | BioCell collagen II (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, hydrolyzed collagen type II), rice powder, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source). |
| Jarrow Formulas Hyaluronic Acid (Veggie Caps) | Hyaluronic acid, cellulose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (capsule). |
| Life Time Natural Hyaluronic Acid (Gelcaps) | Hyaluronic acid (rooster/hen comb extract) [potency verified by UV-VIS test method], magnesium stearate, rice flour, gelatin and water. |
| NOW Foods Hyaluronic Acid (Liquid) | Xylitol, vitamin A (from retinyl palmitate), vitamin D (as ergocalciferol), vitamin E (as d-alpha Tocopherol), hyaluronic acid (from Sodium Hyaluronate), L-Proline, L-Lysine (from L-Lysine HCl), de-ionized water, vegetable glycerine, natural berry flavors, citric acid, potassium sorbate (as preservative) and natural vanilla flavor. Contains soy derivatives. |
| Natrol Hyaluronic Acid (Gelcaps) | BioCell Collagen II hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage (chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid), gelatin, water, magnesium stearate. |
| Natural Factors Hyabest Hyaluronic Acid (Veggie Caps) | Hyabest® hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate) (85% from Hyabest® (J), 15% from Hyabest® (S)), cellulose, vegetarian capsule (modified cellulose, purified water, silica), magnesium stearate (vegetable grade), silica. |
| Nature's Bounty, Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C (Softgels) | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate), rice flour, gelatin, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Way Hydraplenish Hyaluronic Acid (Veggie Caps) | BioCell Collagen II (hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid), cellulose, plant-derived capsule, magnesium stearate. The "plant-derived capsule" may by hypromellose. |
| Neocell Laboratories Hyaluronic Acid | Hyaluronic acid, vegetable magnesium stearate, kosher gelatin capsule, natural silica and cellulose. |
| Now Foods Hyaluronic Acid with MSM (Veggie Caps) | Hyaluronic acid (from sodium hyaluronate), MSM (Methylsulphonylmethane), cellulose (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silica. |
| Olympian Labs Inc. Hyaluronic Acid (Capsules) | BioCell collagen, hydrolyzed collagen type II, hyaluronic acid, gelatin (capsule), rice flour, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber), silicon dioxide, ascorbyl palmitate. |
| Solgar Hyaluronic Acid (Tablets) | Vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate), BioCell Collagen II Extract (hydrolyzed collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose, titanium dioxide, vegetable magnesium stearate, silica, vegetable glycerin. |
| Source Naturals Injuv Hyaluronic Acid (Gelcaps) | Injuv (yielding 9% hyaluronic acid), rice bran oil, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, beeswax, and titanium dioxide. |
| Source Naturals Skin Eternal Hyaluronic Acid (Tablets) | BioCell collagen II (type II collagen, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum, colloidal silicon dioxide, and natural peppermint flavor. |
| Thompson Hyaluronic Acid, MSM (Gelcaps) | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), hyaluronic acid (microbial fermentation), cellulose, gelatin capsule, silica, magnesium stearate. |
| Vitology Nutraceuticals Super Hyaluronic Acid (Gelcaps) | Natural Hyaluronic Acid 99% (extracted from rooster combs), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and gelatin. |
| ZOI Research Hyabest Hyaluronic Acid (Veggie Caps) | Hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetarian capsule (cellulose, purified water), magnesium stearate (vegetable derived). |