Methyl sulfonyl methane's therapeutic uses
Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing compound found in various foods, including milk, meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. It has gained attention for its potential therapeutic uses, particularly in treating osteoarthritis, where studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory properties may alleviate symptoms and improve joint health. Additionally, MSM is proposed for various other conditions, such as rosacea and interstitial cystitis, although the latter lacks substantial clinical evidence. Anecdotal reports and small studies suggest MSM might also contribute to improved hair and nail growth, enhanced skin elasticity, wound healing, and relief from digestive disorders.
Research in the twenty-first century has begun to substantiate some of these claims, indicating that MSM can reduce inflammation and support recovery from exercise-related injuries. Despite its growing popularity, there is still a need for more extensive clinical trials to validate its efficacy across all proposed uses. MSM is generally considered safe, as it is a common dietary component, but specific safety concerns for certain populations remain unclear. Overall, MSM presents a promising area of interest for individuals seeking alternative treatments for inflammation and joint health.
Methyl sulfonyl methane's therapeutic uses
- DEFINITION: Natural substance used to treat specific health conditions.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Osteoarthritis
- OTHER PROPOSED USES: Improving growth of nails and hair, interstitial cystitis, rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea, snoring, sports injuries, skin health, allergies, wound healing, digestive health
Overview
Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) is a sulfur-containing compound normally found in many foods. It is chemically related to DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), a popular (although unproven) treatment for arthritis. When DMSO is applied to the skin or taken orally, about 15 percent breaks down in the body to form MSM.
Some researchers have suggested that the resulting MSM could be responsible for the benefits attributed to DMSO. If so, MSM might be preferable as a treatment because it does not cause some of the unpleasant side effects associated with DMSO treatment, such as body odor and bad breath. In addition, as a natural substance found in food, MSM would be expected to have a good safety profile. While for a long time there was no more than preliminary evidence that MSM is useful for any medical condition, in the twenty-first century, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have begun to show MSM has distinctive health benefits.
Requirements and Sources
There is no dietary requirement for MSM. However, it occurs naturally in cow’s milk, meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, coffee, tea, and chocolate. MSM supplements are sold in health food stores and some pharmacies. Although creams and lotions containing MSM are also available, it is difficult to see the purpose of these topical products because MSM, unlike DMSO, is not absorbed through the skin.
MSM supplies sulfur. Some advertisements for MSM claim that sulfur deficiency is widespread and that for this reason alone, MSM will improve the health of almost everybody who takes it. However, there are numerous other dietary sources of sulfur, including, most prominently, many forms of ordinary protein.
Therapeutic Dosages
Oral MSM doses used for therapeutic purposes range from 1,500 to 10,000 milligrams (mg) daily, usually divided into three daily doses.
Therapeutic Uses
Small double-blind, placebo-controlled studies indicate that MSM may be helpful for osteoarthritis. In one small, placebo-controlled trial, the topical application of methyl sulfonyl methane with silymarin (milk thistle) for one month appeared to be effective in treating forty-six subjects with the skin condition rosacea.
MSM has also been proposed as a treatment for interstitial cystitis, an inflammation in the wall of the bladder that causes frequent and painful urination. When prescribed for this condition, MSM is usually placed directly into the bladder, although oral use has also been suggested. However, no clinical studies on this use have been performed. The only evidence for this treatment comes from case studies, anecdotal reports, and small-scale studies. Since interstitial cystitis is known to respond very positively to placebos, these reports mean little. MSM has also been advocated for allergies (including drug allergies), scleroderma, excess stomach acid, and constipation, but there is no meaningful evidence whatsoever to support these proposed uses.
As research on MSM expanded in the twenty-first century, several health benefits became apparent as more clinical studies in humans were undertaken. MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties were shown to help in recovery from exercise, treating osteoarthritis, treating allergies, boosting immunity, strengthening the skin, and fighting certain kinds of cancer. Preliminary research has suggested MSM may be a helpful supplement for wrinkle prevention, as it appears to improve skin elasticity. It may also be helpful for seasonal allergies due to its immune regulating and anti-inflammatory properties. MSM may promote hair and nail growth, speed up wound healing, and help manage the symptoms of digestive disorders, such as leaky gut and inflammatory bowel disease.
Scientific Evidence
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study performed in India, 118 people with osteoarthritis of the knee were given one of the following four treatments: glucosamine (500 mg, three times daily), MSM (500 mg, three times daily), a combination of glucosamine and MSM, or a placebo. The study ran for twelve weeks. The results showed that both MSM and glucosamine improved arthritis symptoms compared with a placebo, and that the combination of MSM and glucosamine was more effective than either alone. Benefits were also seen in a twelve-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fifty people with osteoarthritis, utilizing MSM at a dose of 3 grams (g) twice daily.
Although in a comprehensive review of six studies involving 681 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers concluded that it is not possible to convincingly determine whether either DMSO or MSM is beneficial, studies performed in the twenty-first century did show MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties helped with the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Clinical studies in humans determined that MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties inhibited the breakdown of cartilage, decreased pain, and fortified joints. In 2023, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found a beneficial effect on participants with mild knee pain. Supplementation with MSM decreased pain and inflammation when compared to the placebo. This was promising research not just for osteoarthritis, but for all conditions related to inflammation. MSM was shown to lead to faster recovery times from exercise and reduced muscle damage in distance athletes. Studies showed MSM to be an effective prevention method for allergic rhinitis resulting from an inflammatory response. MSM was also shown to boost immunity, promote skin health by strengthening keratin, and contain anti-cancer properties.
Safety Issues
MSM is a natural component of the foods people normally eat and is not believed to be toxic. A laboratory study examining doses of up to 8 g per kilogram of body weight per day (about 250 times the highest dose normally used by humans) reported no toxic effects. Maximum safe doses for young children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with liver or kidney disease are not known. Possible drug interactions are also not known. Patients using MSM as a supplement are advised not to drink alcohol due to interactions seen in other sulfur-containing medications.
Bibliography
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Kim, L. S., et al. "Efficacy of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in Osteoarthritis Pain of the Knee." Osteoarthritis Cartilage, vol. 14, no. 3, 2006, pp. 286-299.
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Stuart, Annie. "MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): Uses and Risks." WebMD, 7 Sept. 2023, www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/msm-methylsulfonylmethane-uses-and-risks. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
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