Except where noted otherwise,
data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Methyl Sulfonyl Methane
(MSM, or dimethylsulfone) is an organic
sulfur compound
belonging to a class of chemicals
known as sulfones. It is an organosulfur compound with
the formula (CH3)2SO2. It occurs naturally in some primitive
plants and is present in small amounts in many foods and
beverages.
MSM is also known as dimethylsulfone, or DMSO2, a name
that reflects its close chemical relationship to
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which differs only in the
oxidation state of the sulfur atom. MSM is the primary
metabolite of DMSO in humans, and it shares some of the
properties of DMSO.
MSM is sold as a dietary supplement that is marketed
with a variety of claims and is commonly used (often in
combination with glucosamine and/or chondroitin) for
helping to treat or prevent osteoarthritis. Retail sales
of MSM as a single ingredient in dietary supplements
amounted to $115 million in 2003. However, clinical
research on the medical use of the chemical in people is
limited to a few pilot studies that have suggested
beneficial effects.
MSM is a natural source of sulfur,
used in the supplement and health food industry.
Dr. Stanley W. Jacob administered
MSM to over 18,000 patients with a variety of ailments;
he co-authored a book promoting MSM with a variety of
claims, including its supposed utility as a natural
source of "biologically active sulfur," suggesting that
people are deficient in such forms of sulfur in their
dietary intake. Dietary sulphur is readily available in
onions, garlic and cruciferous vegetables and in
protein-containing foods, including nuts, seeds, milk
and eggs.
Evidence from clinical
trials
Osteoarthritis
After several reports that MSM
helped arthritis in animal models, a double-blind,
placebo-controlled study suggested that 1500 mg per day
MSM (alone or in combination with glucosamine sulfate)
was helpful in relieving symptoms of knee
osteoarthritis. Kim et al. then conducted a double-blind
clinical trial of MSM for treatment of patients with
osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-five patients took 6
g/day MSM and 25 patients took a placebo for 12 weeks.
Ten patients did not complete the study, and
intent-to-treat analysis was performed. Patients who
took MSM had significantly reduced pain and improved
physical functioning, without major adverse events. No
evidence of a more general anti-inflammatory effect was
found, as there were no significant changes in two
measures of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein
level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Barrager evaluated the efficacy of
MSM for hayfever. Twenty-five subjects consumed 2,600 mg
of MSM per day for 30 days, and a significant
improvement in symptoms was observed compared to those
taking a placebo. However, the study was not blinded.
Also, no significant changes were observed in two
indicators of inflammation (C-reactive protein and
immunoglobulin E levels). The authors suggest that MSM
is safe for short-term use and recommend that a larger,
double-blind study be performed to establish its
usefulness in treating symptoms of seasonal allergic
rhinitis.
Interstitial cystitis
In 1978, the FDA approved
dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for instillation into the
bladder as a treatment for interstitial cystitis. Since
DMSO is metabolized to MSM by the body, it is possible
that MSM is the active ingredient in DMSO treatments.
Snoring
Blum & Blum conducted a randomized,
double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of an
MSM-containing throat spray for snoring.
Manufacture of MSM
MSM is manufactured by oxidation of
DMSO with hydrogen peroxide (DMSO + Hydrogen Peroxide
yields MSM + water). The MSM must then be purified.
There are two methods of purification currently used in
commercial production of MSM as a dietary supplement:
crystallization and distillation.
Extreme Close-Up of Pure
MSM in it's crystalline state
Crystallization yields products with varying degrees of
purity, but it is a more cost-effective method and is
thus preferred by most manufacturers.
Distillation produces similar
purity MSM, but is a more expensive process.
Distillation uses boiling point differentials to purify
the MSM mixture. First, water is vaporized; then MSM is
separated from “low boilers” (i.e., components with low
boiling temperatures). Further distillation yields the
pure MSM product. Components with high boiling
temperatures (e.g., heavy metals, salts) remain in the
bottom of the distillation vessel and are removed as
waste. Distillation yields a product of reasonable
purity. The product is quite dry (typically < 0.05%
moisture) when distilled properly, so few
moisture-related problems occur, such as product
degradation and microbial contamination. Also, the less
water present in a product, the less water quality is a
concern. Thus, like crystallization, distillation can
also remove heavy metals from
raw materials and is not dependent on water quality.
To obtain purity may require contacting the
seller and requesting data from the Certificate of
Analysis on the raw material. If measured, levels of
lead and other heavy metals should be as low as
analytical laboratory detection methods permit.
Sulfur -
the 4th most abundant mineral in the human body
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