Hyaluronan HA IQ | Hyaluronex

Test Your HA IQ!

"All sodium hyaluronates are the same." True or False?

False. All hyaluronic acid molecules ARE composed of the repeating disaccharide subunit containing D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid. However, sodium hyaluronate molecules differ from one another in chain length, varying from a few repeats of the subunit to many thousands of repeats. (CSG follows standard scientific practice by referring to sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid collectively as "hyaluronan.") In the body, small fragments of hyaluronan appear to have a very different role from that of very large hyaluronan molecules. Regulation of hyaluronan synthesis and degradation remains a very active area of scientific investigation. Cogent Solutions Group ("CSG"), makers of Hyaluronex, continues to support related research.

"The best hyaluronan comes from animal sources." True or False?

False. Some animal hyaluronans are very small fragments of larger molecules. Others are known to give rise to allergic reactions and other sensitivities in individuals and horses that take them. Leading pharmaceutical and medical device products are based on hyaluronan derived from non-animal sources. CSG is committed to providing the highest quality hyaluronan derived only from non-animal sources.

"All commercial hyaluronan now comes from China." True or False?

False. While some suppliers have no problem using raw materials of questionable quality from China, CSG uses only hyaluronan and other starting materials not emanating from the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). This is not in any way a political decision on CSG's part but rather part of CSG's commitment to consumer safety.

"Glucosamine and chondroitin provide the same benefit as hyaluronan." True or False?

False. Glucosamine and chondroitin are used differently by the body. Hyaluronan is the major macromolecular component of synovial fluid and can be derived from non-animal sources. (CSG gets its hyaluronan from non-animal sources.) The glucosamine and chondroitin in most commercial products is from animal sources, raising concerns about allergies and other sensitivities. The anti-inflammatory properties of hyaluronan are not shared by glucosamine and chondroitin, which are also not uniformly well-absorbed.

"Powdered hyaluronan products are absorbed as well as hyaluronan syrups and gels." True or False?

False. Hyaluronan can absorb as much as 1000 times its own weight in water. As it gradually absorbs this water, hyaluronan becomes a very viscous lumpy gel before becoming a more uniform syrup. Such a syrup resembles how the hyaluronan is used in the body, for example, to make synovial fluid. Syrups and gels provide a horse hyaluronan in a usable form that can be absorbed readily, rather than one which will give rise to indissoluble structures that will be eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract without ever having the opportunity to be absorbed.