Abstract: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely found in various tissues of the human body and has various physiological functions such as moisturizing and lubricating effects, and it is involved in various biological processes such as wound healing, inflammatory response, and tissue repair. As an important medical and cosmetic material, HA has been widely used in medicine and cosmetic products. On January 7, 2021, the National Health Commission of China issued a document approving sodium hyaluronate as a “new food ingredient” that can be added in common foods. Oral administration is the most desirable, economical and convenient way of drug delivery, and there is high compliance with it. In this paper, we review representative published research findings on oral HA, with focuses on its absorption, distribution and metabolic pathways in the body, as well as its protective functions on different tissues and organs, which when combined with pharmacological and toxicological studies may provide a scientific basis for the development and application of oral HA formulations and provide improved knowledge of oral HA.

Key words: hyaluronic acid, oral, human health