MSM is an organic source of sulfur and a relative of DMSO, the infamous solvent ointment used on racehorses with joint pains. Fifteen percent of DMSO, whether taken internally or topically, is converted into MSM.  Because sulfur is necessary for the formation of connective tissue, and because MSM is 34 percent organic sulfur, MSM has been widely studied for its use in arthritis and other complications of joint inflammation.

MSM is an organic source of sulfur that is found in plants but is lost with heating or freezing during food preparation.   Because sulfur is necessary for the formation of connective tissue, and because MSM is 34 percent organic sulfur, MSM has been widely studied for its use in arthritis and other complications of joint inflammation.  Sulfur is found in cartilage and collagen.  Because of MSM’s sulfur content; it is used by the body to maintain normal connective tissues.  MSM is an important source of sulfur, but also has unique properties related to its chemical structure and biological activities.  MSM has many health benefits such as natural pain killer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive properties, prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis inhibition, anti-atherosclerotic action, and free radical scavenging activity [1,2,3].  MSM has been shown to effect inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus [4.5].   For more info on MSM go to www.msm-info.com.

The natural level of MSM in the circulatory system of an adult human male is about 0.2 mg/kg. Normal adults excrete 4 to 11 mg MSM per day in their urine. Several studies suggest that the systemic concentration of MSM drops in mammals with increased age, possibly as a result of changing diet or body metabolism. Some research suggests that there is a minimum concentration of MSM that must be maintained in the body to preserve normal physiological function and the molecular structure of our musculoskeletal systems. Low concentrations of MSM in our bodies have been linked with unspecified complaints of fatigue, depression, high sensitivity to physical and psychological stress, and with a large number of degenerative diseases.

Sulfur is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, after calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It is an important component of vital amino acids like methionine and taurine; co-enzymes like thiamin, biotin and coenzyme A; and major antioxidants like glutathione, cysteine and alpha lipoic acid.

Sulfur also inhibits the various enzymes that destroy cartilage, like collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase.   As far back as the 1930s, researchers demonstrated that persons with osteoarthritis (and rheumatoid arthritis for that matter) are commonly deficient in this essential nutrient.   As a matter of fact, these decades-old impressions were confirmed recently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Of note is that the severity of the RA was directly correlated with the sulfate level in both blood (serum) and joint (synovial) fluids [6].

Clinical Trials:

The first clinical trial by Usha and Naidu’s  12-week trial (n=118), patients with knee OA received either 1.5 g MSM, 1.5 g glucosamine sulfate, 1.5 g MSM plus glucosamine sulfate, or placebo; significant decreases in the Lequesne Index were reported with MSM, glucosamine sulfate, and their combination . There was 73% reduction in pain with glucosamine group, 52% with MSM group and 79% with combination MSM and glucosamine group; joint mobility, swelling, global evaluation, and walking time also improved. [7]

In another trial using a much larger dose of MSM, 6g/day.  The differences between the MSM and placebo groups were relatively small in the WOMAC subscales. In the MSM group pain decreased by 14.6 mm (25.1%), and in placebo it decreased by 7.3 mm (13.2%) at 12 weeks. The difference in pain improvement was 7.3 mm (12%) between the MSM and placebo groups. For physical function, stiffness and total symptoms, the decreases in MSM group were 15.7 mm (30.4%), 10.1 mm (19.7%), and 13.4 mm (25.1%) and the decreases in placebo group 8.8 mm (16.7%), 6.5 mm (11.7%), and 7.5 mm (13.8%), respectively. The differences between the groups were 6.8 mm (13.7%), 3.6 mm (8.0%), and 5.9 mm (11.3%) at 12 weeks, respectively. [8]

References:

1. Ebisuzaki, K. Aspirin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): a search for common mechanisms, with implications for cancer prevention. Anticancer Res. 2003; 23: 453–458
2. Alam, S.S. and Layman, D.L. Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibition of prostacyclin production in cultured aortic endothelial cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1983; 411: 318–320
3. Beilke, M.A., Collins-Lech, C., and Sohnle, P.G. Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on the oxidative function of human neutrophils. J Lab Clin Med. 1987; 110: 91–96
4. Morton, J. and Moore, R. Lupus nephritis and deaths are diminished in B/W mice drinking 3% water solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or dimethyl sulfone (DMSO₂). J Leukoc Biol. 1986; 40: 322
5. Hasegawa, T. Suppressive effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 2004; 32: 421–427
6. Bradlley H., et al. Sulfate metabolism is abnormal in patients with RA. J Rheumatol 21:1192-6,1994
7. Usha, P. and Naidu, M. Randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study of oral glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane and their combination in osteoarthritis. Clin Drug Invest. 2004; 24: 353–363
8. Kim LS¹, Axelrod LJ, Howard P, Buratovich N. Waters RF. Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2006 Mar;14(3):286-94. Epub 2005 Nov 23.