MSM information

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Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM, or dimethylsulfone) is an organic sulfur

compound belonging to a class of chemicals known as sulfones. 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.

 

Contents [hide]

1 Use as a solvent

2 Effects on health

2.1 Evidence from clinical trials

2.2 Pharmacology and toxicity

3 Manufacturing and purity

4 References

5 External links

 

 

 

[edit] Use as a solvent

Because of its polarity and thermal stability, MSM is used

industrially as a high-temperature solvent for both inorganic and

organic substances. It is used as a medium for carrying out chemical

reactions in polymerization processes as well as to make

pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, paint, coating materials and

biocides. According to U.S. law enforcement officials, MSM is used

to dilute methamphetamine in the illegal drug trade. [1]

 

 

[edit] Effects on health

The effects of supplemental methylsulfonylmethane in biology and

medicine are poorly understood. Several researchers have suggested

that MSM has anti-inflammatory effects (Morton et al. 1986; Childs,

1994; Murav'ev et al., 1991). Any health effects of dimethyl

sulfoxide (DMSO) may be mediated, at least in part, by MSM (Williams

et al, 1966; Kocsis et al, 1975). Stanley W. Jacob, M.D., of the

Oregon Health & Science University claims to have used MSM to treat

over 18,000 patients with a variety of ailments (Jacob & Appleton,

2003).

 

Clinical evidence for the usefulness of MSM is limited to animal

studies and four published clinical studies in humans. These pilot

studies of MSM have suggested some benefits, particularly for

treatment of osteoarthritis. Further studies would be needed to test

the usefulness of the chemical as a medical therapy.

 

 

[edit] 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

(Usha and Naidu 2004). 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 (Kim et al). 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. The

authors cautioned that this short pilot study did not address the

long-term safety and usefulness of MSM, but suggested that

physicians should consider its use for certain osteoarthritis

patients, and that long-term studies should be conducted (Kim et al.

2006).

Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Barrager et al. evaluated the efficacy

of MSM for hayfever (Barrager et al, 2002). 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

(Childs 1994).

Snoring: Blum & Blum conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo

controlled clinical trial of an MSM-containing throat spray for

snoring (Blum & Blum, 2004).

 

[edit] Pharmacology and toxicity

The LD50 (dose at which 50% of test subjects are killed) of MSM is

greater than 17.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. In rats, no

adverse events were observed after daily doses of 2 g MSM per kg of

body weight. In a 90-day follow-up study rats received daily MSM

doses of 1.5 g/kg, and no changes were observed in terms of

symptoms, blood chemistry, or gross pathology (Horvath et al., 2002).

 

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have demonstrated that oral

doses of MSM are absorbed into the blood and cross the blood-brain

barrier (Rose et al., 2000; Lin et al., 2001). An NMR study has also

found detectable levels of MSM normally present in the blood and

cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that it derives from dietary

sources, intestinal bacterial metabolism, and the body's endogenous

methanethiol metabolism (Engelke et al., 2005).

 

The published clinical trials of MSM did not observe any serious

side-effects of treatment, but there are no peer-reviewed data on

the effects of long-term use in humans.

 

 

[edit] Manufacturing and purity

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. Distillation produces superior

purity MSM (King, 1980), but is a more expensive process.

Crystallization yields products with varying degrees of purity, but

it is a more cost-effective method and is thus preferred by some

manufacturers.

 

The purity of MSM separated by crystallization is dependent upon the

purity of the solvent and the raw materials used in manufacturing,

and on the industrial hygiene procedures employed at the plant. As

crystals grow in solution, they naturally form pockets, called

occlusions, which entrap solvent within the crystal structure.

Contaminants, such as heavy metals, may therefore be present in

crystallized MSM. This is a concern when MSM is manufactured in

countries where water pollution is a problem.

 

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 excellent purity. The product is

quite dry (typically < 0.05% moisture) when distilled properly, so

fewer 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, distillation can

remove heavy metals from raw materials and is not dependent on water

quality.

 

Many brands of MSM claim to be 99.9% pure, but this figure can be

misleading. Purity is usually assessed in these cases using high

resolution gas-liquid chromatography (HRGC), but this technique only

measures volatile substances. Contaminants in the MSM that cannot be

volatilized (e.g., heavy metals) would not show up on this test

result. Meaningful assessment of purity therefore requires

additional testing. One such test is measurement of melting point.

MSM should melt in a narrow range at 109.5 degrees Celsius, give or

take one degree. Any deviation of the melting point outside this

range indicates the presence of non-volatile contaminants.

 

Unfortunately, such information does not appear on the supplement

label. To obtain it requires contacting the manufacturer 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 (0.01

parts per million).

 

 

[edit] References

Barrager E, Veltmann JR, Schauss AG, Schiller RN. A multi-centered,

open label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane

in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Altern Complement

Med 2002;8:167–74. PMID 12006124

Blum JM, Blum RI. The effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the

control of snoring. Integrative Medicine 2004;3(6)24-30.

Childs SJ. Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in the treatment of interstitial

cystitis. Urol Clin North Am 1994;21:85–8. PMID 8284850

Engelke UF, Tangerman A, Willemsen MA, Moskau D, Loss S, Mudd SH,

Wevers RA. Dimethyl sulfone in human cerebrospinal fluid and blood

plasma confirmed by one-dimensional (1)H and two-dimensional (1)H-

(13)C NMR. NMR Biomed 2005 Aug;18(5):331-6. PMID 15996001

Horváth K, Noker PE, Somfai-Relle S, et al. Toxicity of

methylsulfonylmethane in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40:1459–62.

PMID 12387309

Jacob SW, Appleton J. MSM-The Definitive Guide (Topanga, Freedom

Press, 2003) ISBN 1-893910-21-0

Kim LS, 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;14(3):286–94.

PMID 16309928

King CJ. Separation Processes, 2nd ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1980.

ISBN 0-07-034612-7

Kocsis JJ, Harkaway S, Snyder R. Biological effects of the

metabolites of dimethyl sulfoxide. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1975;243:104–9.

PMID 1055534

Lin A, Nguy CH, Shic F, Ross BD. Accumulation of

methylsulfonylmethane in the human brain: identification by

multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Toxicol Lett

2001;123:169–77. PMID 11641045

Morton JI, Siegel BV. Effects of oral dimethyl sulfoxide and

dimethyl sulfone on murine autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease.

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1986;183:227–30. PMID 3489943

Murav'ev IuV, Venikova MS, Pleskovskaia GN, et al. [Effect of

dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on a destructive process in

the joints of mice with spontaneous arthritis]. Patol Fiziol Eksp

Ter 1991;(2):37–9 [in Russian]. PMID 1881708

Pearson TW, Dawson HJ, Lackey HB. Natural occurring levels of

dimethyl sulfoxide in selected fruits, vegetables, grains and

beverages. J Agric Food Chem 1981;29:1019–21. PMID 7309994

Pfiffner JJ, North HB. Dimethyl sulfone: A constituent of the

adrenal gland. J Biol Chem 1940;134:781–2. PDF online.

Rose SE, Chalk JB, Galloway GJ, Doddrell DM. Detection of dimethyl

sulfone in the human brain by in vivo proton magnetic resonance

spectroscopy. Magn Reson Imaging 2000;18:95–8. PMID 10642107

Usha PR, Naidu MUR. Randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-

controlled study of oral glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane and

their combination in osteoarthritis. Clin Drug Invest 2004;24(6):353–

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Williams KIH, Burstein SH, Layne DS. Dimethyl sulfone: isolation

from cows' milk. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1966;122:865–6. PMID 5918965

Williams KIH, Burstein SH, Layne. Metabolism of dimethyl sulfide,

dimethyl sulfoxide, and dimethyl sulfone in the rabbit. Arch Biochem

Biophys 1966;117:84–7. PMID 5971744