Hyaluronan is the accepted scientific nomenclature for hyaluronic acid (HA) and physiological salts of hyaluronate, the conjugate base of hyaluronic acid. \u00a0Hyaluronan is classified as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG). \u00a0GAG\u2019s are long, unbranched polysaccharides that are made of repeating disaccharides composed of glucuronic acid and glucosamine (Fraser, 1997). \u00a0The polymer chain of hyaluronan ranges in molecular weight from hundreds of units (or Daltons) up to several million.<\/p>\n
Hyaluronan is found ubiquitously throughout the mammalian body. \u00a0It is either directly or indirectly involved in every physiological function of the body. \u00a0It is found in dense concentrations in cartilage, synovial fluid, skin, vertebral discs, bones, urinary tract, cardiac valves, eyes, and various other soft tissues. \u00a0Hyaluronan is most abundant during embryogenesis and declines in overall quantity and quality throughout life (McDonald, 2002).<\/p>\n
BONE AND JOINT HEALTH<\/h3>\n
Canonically, hyaluronan is recognized for its role in the maintenance of joint health. \u00a0Hyaluronan is naturally synthesized locally by synoviocytes within the joint and once produced, it binds to collagen and elastin to form articular cartilage. \u00a0It is the presence of hyaluronan that makes cartilage strong enough to handle compressive forces within the joint (Seog, 2002). \u00a0Hyaluronan is also found in unbound form in the synovial fluid, where it provides the major source of lubrication that allows for smooth fluid movements in joints (Sabaratnam, 2005).<\/p>\n
Hyaluronan within the synovial capsule is critical for smooth joint movement: the articular cartilage encapsulates the ends of the bones forming a smooth while synovial fluid forms a film of lubrication over the articular cartilage during movement. \u00a0Combined, these structures protect the bones from frictional grinding (Walker, 1968).<\/p>\n
Within bone itself, the presence of hyaluronan is primarily linked to its roles in bone modeling and remodeling processes. \u00a0Hyaluronan has been shown to regulate bone remodeling by stimulating osteoblasts and osteocytes as well as inhibiting osteoclasts (Bastow, 2008; Prince, 2004). \u00a0Intriguingly, hyaluronan taken orally has been shown to reduce urinary markers of bone resorption and ovariectomy-induced bone loss (Gerdin, 1997), indicating that hyaluronan may suppress bone resorption.<\/p>\n
THE SKIN<\/h3>\n
One of the primary functions of hyaluronan is maintaining tissue hydration. \u00a0Interestingly, hyaluronan is so hydrophilic it can absorb, retain, and deliver over one-thousand times its weight in water (Wand, 2007). \u00a0The ubiquitous nature of the molecule ensures that hydrophilic delivery takes place throughout all tissue.<\/p>\n
Hyaluronan is found most prevalently in the skin; approximately half of total body hyaluronan is located within the dermal and epidermal layers. \u00a0Primary functions of hyaluronan in the skin include moisturization and hydration (Meyer, 1941). \u00a0Skin turgor is the result of the ability of hyaluronan to absorb, retain, and deliver water (Wang, 2007). \u00a0With age, there is a distinct decrease in the percent composition of hyaluronan in epidermal tissue likely correlating with the increase in wrinkles and aged skin (Juhlin, 1997). \u00a0Experiments have demonstrated that 77% of naturally occurring hyaluronan in the skin is lost by age 70 in humans (Weist, 2008).<\/p>\n
OCULAR HEALTH<\/h3>\n
Hyaluronan makes up a large part of the vitreous humor (the space-filling jelly between the lens and the retina) and is also found in the lacrimal gland, cornea, conjunctiva, and in tears (Gong, 1994). \u00a0Ocular functions of hyaluronan include homeostasis, moisturization, and lubrication.<\/p>\n
GASTRIC HEALTH<\/h3>\n
Hyaluronan has established itself as a protectant by its ability to confer defense to gut mucosal tissue. \u00a0A recent study aimed to evaluate the effects of hyaluronan on gastric mucosa (Al-Bayaty 2011). \u00a0Laboratory findings revealed that a high-molecular-weight hyaluronan-containing gel significantly protected the gastric mucosa.<\/p>\n
ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION<\/h3>\n
Oral hyaluronan has been shown to be absorbed and effective (Ma, 2008). \u00a0Recent clinical studies are consistent with these laboratory findings (Lukens, 2005; Kiburz, 2006). \u00a0Studies with (99m)-technetium-labeled, high-molecular-weight hyaluronan administered orally show distribution to the joints in as little as four hours (Balough, 2008).<\/p>\n
To be compared to the CSG family of products, any oral hyaluronan supplement must be bioavailable, absorbed, and effective. \u00a0Hyaluronan must be completely hydrated in order to be bioavailable and absorbed. \u00a0Once absorbed it must have the appropriate molecular characteristics to be effective.<\/p>\n
CSG oral hyaluronan supplements have been developed in liquid formulations because of the very nature of hyaluronan itself. \u00a0Hyaluronan is among nature\u2019s most water-loving molecules. \u00a0When dry and exposed to moisture, hyaluronan slowly absorbs up to 1000 times its weight in water, creating a thick, viscous fluid. \u00a0If consumed dry as a tablet, the transit time from ingestion to excretion does not provide the necessary time for hydration of this incredibly hydrophilic molecule. \u00a0Research indicates that little of the high molecular weight dry forms are absorbed before excretion. \u00a0While some low molecular weight dry forms may be hydrated and absorbed during ingestion and digestion, they are not effective and may actually be detrimental to joint health. \u00a0A study performed with CSG\u2019s patented, liquid MHB3\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>Hyaluronan shows it significantly outperformed a dry, tableted dosage form of HA (Hefner, 2012).<\/p>\nREFERENCES<\/h3>\n
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