MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

This molecule with an unpronounceable name (methylsulfonylmethane), commonly nicknamed MSM, is a sulphur compound found naturally in very small amounts in many foods.

Source

Researchers at the University of Health Sciences in Portland, Oregon, USA, discovered MSM in the 1970s.

It was first used in veterinary medicine - most commonly for racehorses and purebred dogs - to combat inflammatory muscle and bone disorders.

It is produced by oxidising a by-product of wood pulp (such as pine lignin) in a laboratory chemical process, and is a white powder with a bitter taste.

Food sources

Many foods contain small amounts of MSM.

These include fruit, vegetables, oilseeds, maize, milk and dairy products (dairy products, cheese, etc.), meat and seafood, tea, coffee and chocolate.

However, MSM found naturally in foods is very fragile, particularly sensitive to heat, drying and many industrial processing processes.

To reap the therapeutic benefits, food alone is not enough.

Benefits and virtues

Sulphur compounds such as MSM have three main functions in the body:

They contribute to the permeability of cell membranes.
They help keep connective tissues (tendons, cartilage, collagen, deep dermis, etc.) in good condition.
Helps to eliminate toxins from the body.

All the therapeutic properties of MSM derive from these three functions.

Indications

How to dose

The usual dose is 1.5g a day in two or three doses, but some doctors recommend higher doses for osteoarthritis, up to 6g a day.

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks of treatment to feel the first effects, so it is important to continue treatment for this length of time, even if there is no improvement in symptoms.

Side effects and contraindications

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take MSM-based treatments, nor should people with kidney problems or undergoing chemotherapy.

Side effects are rare and the most commonly reported are mild: nausea, headache and intestinal discomfort.