What is sodium hyaluronate?

[massagedoula]

I have been trying to do research into what the sodium hyaluronate actually is/does and especially why it is in the cystoprotek formula. I found thousands of articles about glucosamine/chondroitin/and quercitin but basically nothing about sodium hyaluronate except what is on the Algonot site. Where does Algonot get the info that it is a safe thing to take in high dosages? I am taking the Cystoprotek, but it does bother me that I cannot find any good info about one of the ingredients except what is on "scammy" type websites like life extension or vitamin sales sites.

Can anyone tell me more about sodium hyaluronate or where to find out the safety profile of it?
-Emily

[icnmgrjill]

Sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid.. though these are likely different variations of the same) has been around for many years now and is a "naturally" found component of human joints. In fact, it's what they often use in patients who require injections in to their jaw joints for TMJ. The use of this in the bladder has been for many years now. I can remember hearing the first press releases back in 1995.

I've always considered this more of a natural bladder coating in contrast to the synthetic pentosan polysulfate (Elmiron). It's the active ingredient in a long used bladder instillation in Canada and Europe called Cystistat (made by Bioniche). So, for some safety information, check out the following search terms:

Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Cystistat

Also... make sure you use the pubmed service. There's a link in our online library. Also search our site as well via http://www.ic-network.com/search.html

I know that a big study was released on Cystistat in the past few months.

Also... there was a huge TV show on Hyaluronic Acid that showed that communities in Japan which had high intakes of it had a very high lifespans. I think it was a dateline story. HA is now all the rage in supplements ...

Jill

[massagedoula]

Thank you Jill,
This explains a lot. I found many articles about Hyaluronic Acid but none about the Sodium Hyaluronate. I had wondered if they were one and the same. I have high hopes for the Cystoprotek...Have you, as someone who speaks to a lot of IC patients, found that it helps many people?
-Emily

[JenG]

I have been using the Alganot plus for about 4 months now. It does seem to be helping. It has the glucosamine/chondroitin/ quercitin/ sodium hyaluronate, combo. I went a couple days without it once and noticed a difference. However I am also on Elmiron, Atarax and Heparin instills so it is hard to tell which is providing the most relief. The combo does seem to keep everything calm most of the time with only the occassional flare.

I also am taking it to help my joint pain from my fibromyalgia so it is good to take something with a duel purpose. Good luck, I hope it works for you!