MSM: The Miracle Supplement

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One supplement that has recently gained much popularity among the health-conscious is MSM or methylsulfonylmethane, a sulfur compound that occurs naturally in the human body. MSM is also found in various food sources including milk, fish, green vegetables, grains and eggs, especially the yolks.

Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the human body, next to calcium and phosphorous. Your muscular tissue, skin, and bones account for nearly half of all sulfur in the body. It’s important stuff: The human body needs sulfur to hold proteins in shape, to maintain the health of your connective tissue, and for the cellular energy production in which glucose is metabolized.

The principal reason people take MSM as a dietary supplement is to support the function of the joints. However, when you see our huge list of MSM’s potential health benefits, you will see why it has gained such a good rep.

Despite MSM’s many health benefits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is yet to approve medical uses for MSM. However, a variety of studies have lent support to the use of MSM as a supplement with great potential health benefits. Here is our full report:

MSM And Osteoarthritis

MSM has had good scientific support for its ability to relieve pain or swelling from osteoarthritis. Debbi et. al. ^[1] conducted a study in 2011 to determine the efficacy of MSM in treating patients with OA. The study focused on nine men and women with knee OA. The results showed an improvement in pain and physical function in patients with OA of the knee after three months of MSM supplementation.

Another research ^[2] investigated the efficacy and safety of combined MSM and glucosamine in OA of the knee as compared to glucosamine and MSM-only supplementations. The study’s 118 patients with mild to moderate OA received either glucosamine 500mg, MSM 500mg, and combined glucosamine and MSM or placebo capsules three times a day for three months. The study noted that glucosamine, MSM, and their combination were effective in providing analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect in OA. Better efficacy in reducing pain and swelling and in improving the functional ability of joints was determined in combination therapy than the individual agents.

MSM For Skin And Hair

MSM is also applied topically to the skin to solve various skin problems such as wrinkles, windburn or sunburn and wounds, cuts, or abrasions.

MSM’s sulfur produces generous quantities of collagen and keratin, which are vital for healthy hair and skin. Many consider MSM as “the beauty mineral” for its noted ability to enhance the thickness and strength of nails and hair in a very short span of time. Studies have shown that MSM is quite helpful in the treatment of skin conditions including rosacea. One of them is by Berardesca et. al. ^[3] who used a topical treatment based on silymarin (from milk thistle) and MSM in the management of rosacea. The study discovered that the combination of silymarin and MSM was effective in managing symptoms and condition of the rosacea skin disorder. It first appeared in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Dermatology. MSM is also believed be effective in treating psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, acne and dandruff.

MSM As Natural Energy Booster

Another interesting MSM benefit is that it helps increase your body’s energy by making the cell walls more permeable. This increased permeability of the cells means that the body needs less energy to deal with the accumulation of toxins. The body’s energy is redirected towards other activities including digestion, which requires an astonishing 70-80 percent of your energy. MSM plays an important role in increasing the absorption of nutrients, thus, in reducing energy expenditure on digestion. The role of MSM as a cell permeability enhancer is widely explored in the book The Miracle of MSM: The Natural Solution for Pain ^[4] by medical doctors Stanley W. Jacob and Ronald M. Lawrence. Originally published in 1999, the 272-page book informs the reader of all the various ailments and diseases for which the natural (sulphur-containing) product MSM can provide relief.

MSM For Weight Loss

Some testimonials from people claimed that MSM had helped them to lose weight. MSM is important in insulin production and metabolism so that it can affect energy levels and carbohydrate metabolism. This could have an indirect effect on weight loss. While there is still a lack of concrete studies to prove this claim, one research used a combined supplementation ^[5] of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to investigate their effects on body composition, functional status, and markers of health in sedentary obese women with knee OA initiating an exercise and weight loss program. The study noted that the combined therapy provided marginal additive benefits. Its participants experienced significant reductions in body mass, fat mass, and body fat.

MSM As Anti-inflammatory

MSM can allow metabolic wastes to be removed better from cells. Its sulfur content is needed by the cells of the body that are chronically inflamed due to the byproducts of metabolic processes including toxins and wastes. The disposal of these by-products also results in the removal of the cells’ excess liquids that were stored as a buffer. The anti-inflammatory property of MSM is also effective in reduction of unwanted weight.

The influence of MSM on inflammation associated with strenuous exercise was explored by van der Merwe and Bloomer ^[6] in a study published in the October 23, 2016 issue of the Journal of Sports Medicine. The study focused on physically active men who were supplemented with either placebo or three grams of MSM after knee extension exercise for a month. The study noted that the MSM acted as an antioxidant to blunt tissue damage and the resulting inflammation brought by the exercise. These data presented proof that MSM could reduce post-exercise immunosuppression.

MSM And Digestion

MSM is taken by some for support with gastrointestinal problems such as chronic constipation, ulcers and diverticulosis, a bowel disease.

MSM, Osteoporosis, Inflammation And More

MSM has also found support for osteoporosis, muscle cramp, headaches, hangovers, premenstrual syndrome, and inflammation in eyes or mucous membranes.

Where To Get MSM

MSM is a widely available supplement. Note that it is considered best to get the pure form that has no additives such as silicon dioxide. Here’s a link to pure MSM powder we found on Amazon that got great reviews.