Oral Low-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Atrophic Vaginitis

Oral Low-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Atrophic Vaginitis.

Article specifications

This double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was published in 2014 in International Journal of Clinical Medicine (IF 2017:0.61) by Italian gynecologists. In this study the effectiveness of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid oral tablets for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis was evaluated. 12 women (aged 45-65 years) with atrophic vaginitis (required to be at least 12 months postmenopausal) were randomized to receive either low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) oral tablets or placebo two tablets/day for 10 days, and subsequently one tablet/day for three months. Vaginal biopsies were taken at baseline and after three months of treatment, and vaginal epithelium was analyzed using light microscopy.

Results

The results of the study that showed that HA, orally administered in a low-molecular weight oral formulation, can ameliorate vaginal atrophy and modify vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women. This is due to the direct action of HA on the vaginal mucosa, restoring its physiological state and counteracting inflammation.

Biopsies from HA group showed an epithelium thicker than in placebo group. The lamina propria from the HA group also showed a denser appearance compared to placebo group. Morphometric analysis showed significant differences between HA and baseline in the number of epithelial layers and in the thickness. The evaluation of symptoms also showed an effective improvement in the patients treated with HA, compared to baseline and to placebo group. In conclusion, This can be an ideal option for patients with atrophic vaginitis who do not want to or cannot take estrogen and show low compliance toward vaginal administration.