There has been a lot of debate about the effectiveness of oral Hyaluronic Acid (HA). The effectiveness of IV HA has been well established. However, one study1 , performed on rats and dogs, clearly shows that oral HA is absorbed by the digestive track.

Research to date has clearly shown that high molecular weight HA is more effective than low molecular weight HA. However, this research was all done on IV HA, not oral. HA forms large molecular strings and in-vivo (in the body) it tends to cross back over on itself and form a matrix. This is what gives HA it's strength and usefulness to joints.

High molecular weight HA ranges from 1 to 5 million daltons in size. This is far to large (by a factor of 100-1000 times) to be absorbed intact through the intestines. But clearly from the first study and through lots of anecdotal we know that high molecular weight HA can be absorbed. So where is the disconnect?

Simple, digestive enzymes break down the HA small enough so it can be absorbed. Supplement companies are constantly trying to differentiate themselves by talking about how their commodity ingredients are unique through a "special process". Different doesn't necessarily mean better, many times it's marketing hype and is just that, different.

Some companies brag about their low molecular weight HA, which seems unnecessary as the first study shows traditional high molecular weight HA is broken down and absorbed. Other companies brag about their very high weight molecular weight HA (2 million+ daltons). The companies that sell this very high molecular weight HA refer to studies that show (correctly) that high molecular weight HA is more effective than low. If you read closely you'll notice every study they reference refers to IV HA.

Just because their HA is better for IV doesn't mean it's better orally. The larger molecular weight HA is meaningless since it will be broken down by the digestive track before it can be absorbed.

High molecular weight HA is more expensive because of supply and demand and the demand for it comes from IV products. It is not more expensive because it works more effectively in oral administration.

Until a study clearly shows that either low molecular weight or very high molecular weight HA is more effective in oral doses (which we don't expect) we will source the purest, least expensive HA available and pass that cost savings along to our customers.

1 - http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/22/2_MeetingAbstracts/729