Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Scientific Name(s): Methylsulfonylmethane , DMSO2
Common Name(s): MSM
Clinical Overview
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Uses of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
MSM is said to alleviate GI upset, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, and allergies; to boost the immune system; and to possess antimicrobial effects.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Dosing
MSM commonly is given first at a loading dose of 2 to 5 g/day, then as a maintenance dose of 50 to 200 mg/day for arthritis and other joint conditions.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Interactions
None well documented.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Adverse Reactions
No adverse reactions with MSM have been reported.
Toxicology
No important toxicities were noted in animal reports.
MSM is a natural chemical in green plants such as Equisetum arvense , certain algae, fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is also found in animals in the adrenal cortex of cattle, human and bovine milk, and urine. MSM is naturally occurring in fresh foods; however, it is destroyed with even moderate food processing, such as heat or dehydration. 1
History
Literature searches on MSM provide mostly animal studies. MSM has been suggested for use as a food supplement.
Chemistry
MSM is a normal oxidation product of DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). Unlike DMSO, MSM is odor-free and is a dietary factor. MSM has been referred to as “crystalline DMSO.” 2 MSM provides a dietary source of sulfur for methionine. 1
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Uses and Pharmacology
MSM has been said to alleviate GI upset, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, allergies, and to boost the immune system. It is also said to possess antimicrobial effects against such organisms as Giardia lamblia , Trichomonas vaginalis , and certain fungal infections. The suggested mechanism is that MSM may bind to surface receptor sites, preventing the interaction of parasite and host.
Tumor onset in colon cancer-induced rats was markedly delayed in animals receiving MSM supplementation vs controls, suggesting a chemopreventative effect. 3 Four percent MSM had a similar delaying effect on rat mammary breast cancer. 4
MSM showed no effect in preventing diabetes when tested in spontaneously diabetic mice compared with DMSO or dimethylsulfide (DMS). 5
A 10-day course of MSM also has been evaluated in 13 horses with COPD, and no changes occurred in parameters such as lung sounds, respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, nasal discharge, or arterial blood gas. 6
Dosage
MSM commonly is given first at a loading dose of 2 to 5 g/day, then as a maintenance dose of 50 to 200 mg/day for arthritis and other joint conditions.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
No adverse reactions with MSM have been reported.
Toxicology
No important toxicities were noted in animal reports. 3 , 4
Bibliography
1. Richmond V. Incorporation of methylsulfonylmethane sulfur into guinea pig serum proteins. Life Sci 1986;39(3):263-68.2. Bertken R. “Crystalline DMSO:” DMSO2. Arthritis Rheum 1983;26(5):693-94.
3. O'Dwyer P, et al. Use of polar solvents in chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Cancer 1988;62(5):944-48.
4. McCabe D, et al. Polar solvents in the chemoprevention of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced rat mammary cancer. Archives of Surgery 1986;121(12):1455-59.
5. Klandorf H, et al. Dimethyl sulfoxide modulation of diabetes onset in NOD mice. Diabetes 1989;38(2):194-97.
6. Traub-Dargatz J, et al. Evaluation of clinical signs of disease, bronchoalveolar and tracheal wash analysis, and arterial blood gas tensions in 13 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with prednisone, methyl sulfonmethane, and clenbuterol hydrochloride. Am J Vet Res 1992;53(10):1908-16.
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Compare Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) with other medications for the treatment of:
Dietary Supplementation, Muscle Pain
