To be compared to Hyaluronex®, any oral hyaluronan supplement must be bioavailable, absorbed AND effective.36,37,38,39,40 Firstly, hyaluronan must be completely hydrated to be bioavailable and absorbed.41 Secondly, once absorbed it must have the appropriate molecular characteristics including molecular weight to be effective.42 Hyaluronan is among nature's most water-loving molecules. As a powder or pellet it slowly absorbs up to 1000 times its weight in water, creating a thick, viscous fluid. In healthy mammals the transit time from ingestion to excretion does not provide the necessary time for hydration (when consumed dry) of this incredibly hydrophilic molecule. Research indicates that little of the high molecular weight dry forms are absorbed before excretion, and that while some low molecular weight dry forms may be hydrated and absorbed during ingestion and digestion, they are not effective and may be pro-inflammatory.42
