Supplement Facts

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid is a high molecular weight polysaccharide composed of alternating molecules of N-acetyl glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid. It is a member of the glycosaminoglycan family that is found within collagen throughout the body. Unlike other types of connective tissue Hyaluronic Acid is not linked to other proteins or sulfur.

As the most important space filling substance in the human body Hyaluronic Acid holds more water than any other molecule in the body and is necessary to keep collagen hydrated and youthful.

What does Hyaluronic Acid do in the body?

Hyaluronic Acid supports the structure of connective tissue by acting as a water magnet to maintain extracellular fluidity. Hyaluronic Acid forms a viscous fluid with exceptional lubricating properties necessary for the vital functions of many parts of the human body including the skin, heart valves, aqueous/ vitreous humor of the eye and synovial fluid (joint lubricant). The skin contains over 50% of the bodies Hyaluronic Acid. Considering that skin is over 70% water and renews itself more readily than most other bodily tissues Hyaluronic Acid is absolutely vital for it’s structure and daily maintenance. It’s constantly involved in cellular renewal and repair because of daily exposure to solar radiation, pressure, heat, trauma and wound healing.

What is Hyaluronic Acid made from?

Hyaluronic Acid is made by human fibroblast cells. Commercial sources may be from Cocks combs, Chicken cartilage or Microbial fermentation. NOW Foods is a vegetarian source made via Microbial fermentation.

How much Hyaluronic Acid should I take?

Our bodies are in a continual state of rebuilding. New skin cells for example replace old ones about every 20 to 30 days. Normally, Hyaluronic Acid in skin tissue is broken down by an enzyme called Hyaluronidase at a precise rate. The rate of Hyaluronic Acid degradation can be increased by excess intake of riboflavin (B-2), ultraviolet radiation exposure and viruses. Any long-term overexposure to any of these may result in premature connective tissue destruction.

Considering that 10-150 mgs of Hyaluronic Acid is a normally metabolized or excreted daily with the higher rate of loss in persons over 50, it may make sense for older adults to begin supplementing with 1- 50mg capsule 3 times daily just to maintain equilibrium.

What is the purpose of MSM in this formula?

MSM is an organic source of sulfur, a mineral necessary for the normal function and structure of the body. Sulfur is a raw material utilized by the body to manufacture proteins, cartilage and other connective tissues. Studies with MSM have proven it to be safe and effective for the use of various types of connective tissue needs but some of its beneficial mechanisms of action are still unfolding. Radioactive labeled MSM was fed to animals at a research foundation and subsequent analyses on their serum proteins revealed that a small amount of the sulfur from the MSM had been taken up by two of the body’s amino acids, methionine and cysteine.

As research continues I believe science will discover many additional reasons to include both of these safe supplements in any well designed joint, skin and hair support formula.

Everyone old enough to walk appreciates the value of flexibility and ease of movement. Unfortunately many of us take such good things for granted. A famous folksinger sang, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." That's certainly true for millions Americans who live with stiff and uncomfortable joints.

Fortunately there are a number of nutrients available that provide the vital components of healthy joint structure and function and ease of mobility. These nutrients are referred to as “chondroprotective agents,” and include glucosamine and chondroitin, which supply the raw material necessary to produce new cartilage, and may even help rebuild worn cartilage. Other chondroprotective nutrients and herbs, like Cetyl Myristoleate, MSM, and Boswellin, work synergistically with glucosamine and chondroitin and further support normal joint function.

To understand how chondroprotective agents work, one must first understand how joints work. The key element in human joints is articular cartilage, the shock-absorbing tissue that connects two bones together and allows pain-free movement. Articular cartilage is comprised of two different molecules, collagen and proteoglycans, with the remainder composed primarily of water (65-85%). Collagen, a protein that binds tissue together, provides elasticity. Proteoglycans, composed of sugars and protein, absorb water, which provides lubrication and resiliency, nature's shock absorber for your joints. Both compounds are produced by chondrocytes, caretaker cells responsible for the formation and maintenance of cartilage. A deficiency in any one of the above constituents will increase the likelihood of wear and tear on articular cartilage, which can eventually lead to compromised joint function. Glucosamine and chondroitin are safe, natural and effective nutrients that support healthy joint function by supplying the materials needed to produce collagen and proteoglycans.

GLUCOSAMINE

Glucosamine is composed of glucose (a sugar) and glutamine (an amino acid). It is utilized by chondrocytes to form glycosaminoglycans (GSG) and proteoglycans (PG). Both of these constituents attract and bind water into cartilage, increasing resiliency. Research indicates that glucosamine may actually help your body repair damaged or eroded cartilage. A number of studies have been conducted on glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride, with a preponderance of positive results. Glucosamine sulfate is considered the more effective of the two. One study from the University of Liege in Liege, Belgium studied the effects of glucosamine sulfate on 212 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants took either 1,500 mg glucosamine or a placebo once daily for three years. The study compared joint-space width at enrollment, one year, and at the study’s conclusion. The 106 patients on placebo had a progressive joint-space narrowing, while participants taking glucosamine experienced no significant joint-space loss, indicating glucosamine may beneficially modify cartilage structure.³ A study published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage in 1998 investigated the in vitro effects of glucosamine sulfate on proteoglycan and collagen production by chondrocytes taken from osteoarthritic articular cartilage. The results showed “a statistically significant stimulation of PG production by chondrocytes from human osteoarthritic cartilage cultured for up to 12 days in 3-dimensional cultures.” ⁴ Another study from Italy enrolled eighty inpatients with established OA. They received either 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate or placebo daily for 30 days. The patients treated with glucosamine sulfate experienced a reduction in symptoms almost twice as large and twice as fast as those receiving placebo. Researchers also used electron microscopy of patient’s articular cartilage to support this hypothesis. Patients who received glucosamine sulfate showed a picture more similar to healthy cartilage. The researchers concluded that glucosamine sulfate tends to rebuild damaged articular cartilage and restore articular function.⁵

CHONDROITIN

Chondroitin is classified as a glycosaminoglycan. It bonds with collagen to form the basis of connective tissue. Chondroitin helps attract fluid into proteoglycans, thereby bringing nutrients into cartilage and providing shock absorption. While glucosamine helps manufacture and maintain cartilage, chondroitin keeps cartilage from becoming malnourished. Chondroitin works synergistically with glucosamine, and these two nutrients form the basis of most joint health supplements on the market today. A 6-month randomized, multi-center, double-blind, double-dummy study published in 1996 compared the effectiveness of chondroitin versus a popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). One hundred and forty-six patients with knee OA were recruited and separated into two groups; an NSAID group and a chondroitin sulfate (CS) group. The NSAID group was given the NSAID and a placebo for the first month, then placebo alone for months 2-3. The CS group was given the NSAID and CS for the first month, and then CS alone for months 2-3. Both groups were then given 1200mg of CS for months 4-6. “Patients treated with the NSAID showed prompt and plain reduction of clinical symptoms, which, however, reappeared after the end of treatment; in the CS group, the therapeutic response appeared later in time but lasted for up to 3 months after the end of treatment. CS seems to have slow but gradually increasing clinical activity in OA; these benefits last for a long period after the end of treatment.” ⁶

NOW® Foods is your source for natural joint support products. Our Extra Strength Glucosamine & Chondroitin is one of our best-selling products, and we also have combination supplements that include MSM, Concentrace® minerals, and more. We also carry both glucosamine and chondroitin as separate products, as well as in powder and lotion forms.

References:

1. Balch, James F. et. al. ; Prescription For Nutritional Healing 3rd Edition; Avery; Penguin Putnam; 2000
2. Benedikt, H.; Glycosaminoglycans And Derivatives For Treatment Of Arthritis; Chiropractic Products, May 1997, pp. 92-95
3. Reginster, Jean Yves et. al.; Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial; The Lancet, 2001, Vol. 357, No. 9252
4. Bassleer, C. et. al.; Stimulation of proteoglycan production by glucosamine sulfate in chondrocytes isolated from human osteoarthritic articular cartilage in vitro; Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 1998, 6, 427-434
5. Drovanti, A. et. al.; Therapeutic Activity of Oral Glucosamine Sulfate in Osteoarthritis: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Investigation; Clinical Therapeutics, Vol. 3, No. 4, 1980, pp. 260-272
6. Morreale, P. et. al.; Comparison of the Antiinflammatory Efficacy of Chondroitin Sulfate and Diclofenac Sodium in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis; Journal of Rheumatology, 1996, 23:8, pp. 1385-1391