Sulfur as MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)


Clinical Studies
References

Found to be of help in dissolving scar tissue and stretch marks, decreasing inflammation and chronic pain, and increasing elasticity of the skin and other connective tissue. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) accelerates wound healing. It is a naturally occurring, organic sulphur-containing compound. It may be beneficial in allergies, chronic fatigue, interstitial cystitis, osteoarthritis, diabetes and skin disorders.

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Published Clinical Studies
Sulfur as MSM


A multicentered, open-label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Barrager E, Veltmann JR Jr, Schauss AG, Schiller RN.

GENESIS Center for Integrative Medicine, Graham, WA, USA.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) affects more than 23 million Americans annually, and current epidemiologic studies indicate that its prevalence within the United States is increasing. Numerous clinical observations and case studies have led researchers to hypothesize that methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may help ameliorate the symptoms associated with SAR. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of MSM in the reduction of SAR-associated symptoms. This study also examined possible adverse reactions associated with methylsulfonylmethane supplementation. Finally, this study attempted to elucidate the method of action by which MSM elicits its effect on allergy symptoms. DESIGN: Fifty-five (55) subjects were recruited for the study. All met the criteria for participation in the study. 50 subjects completed the study. Those subjects completing the study consumed 2,600 mg of MSM orally per day for 30 days. Clinical respiratory symptoms and energy levels were evaluated by a Seasonal Allergy Symptom Questionnaire (SASQ) at baseline and on days 7, 14, 21, and 30. Immune and inflammatory reactions were measured by plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE) and C-reactive protein at baseline and on day 30. An additional inflammatory biomarker, plasma histamine, was measured in a subset of subjects (n = 5). RESULTS: Day 7 upper and total respiratory symptoms were reduced significantly from baseline (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively). Lower respiratory symptoms were significantly improved from baseline by week 3 (p < 0.001). All respiratory improvements were maintained through the 30-day visit. Energy levels increased significantly by day 14 (p < 0.0001); this increase continued through day 30. No significant changes were observed in plasma IgE or histamine levels. The results of this study are promising. It would be worthwhile to conduct a larger, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to establish further if MSM would be a useful agent in the treatment of symptoms associated with SAR. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that MSM supplementation of 2,600 mg/day for 30 days may be efficacious in the reduction of symptoms associated with SAR. Furthermore, few side effects are associated with the use of this compound. Recent acute and subacute chronic toxicologic data on the same source of MSM as used in this study, further validate the safety of this product.

Publication Types:

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study


PMID: 12006124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Aspirin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): a search for common mechanisms, with implications for cancer prevention.

Ebisuzaki K.

Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A-5C1, Canada. kebisuza@julian.uwo.ca

BACKGROUND: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a prototypic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and MSM, a "nutritional supplement", are both used in the treatment of arthritis and described as cancer chemopreventive agents. Initial experimentation indicating that aspirin and MSM also induced the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells led to a search for common mechanisms involving these two agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since the major mechanism of action attributed to aspirin is the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), prostaglandin (PG) production was examined under differentiation-inducing conditions in MEL cells. RESULTS: Aspirin at low, nontoxic concentrations induced differentiation leading to terminal cell division. Aspirin had no effect on PGE2 production and minimal inhibitory effect on COX activity. Furthermore, salicylate, a major metabolite of aspirin and an ineffective COX inhibitor, induced differentiation at concentrations comparable to aspirin. Similar experiments with MSM indicated that MSM had no effect on PGE2 production or on COX activity under differentiation--inducing conditions and at concentrations reported in other studies. CONCLUSION: These experiments indicated that aspirin and MSM induced differentiation by a COX-independent mechanism(s) and suggested that a common mechanism for the chemopreventive action invoked by both agents might be the activation of gene functions leading to differentiation and thereby dismantling the cellular capacity for proliferation.

PMID: 12680248 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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Toxicity of methylsulfonylmethane in rats.

Horvath K, Noker PE, Somfai-Relle S, Glavits R, Financsek I, Schauss AG.

Pharmaceutical Control and Development Laboratory Ltd, Budapest, Hungary.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a popular dietary supplement used in a variety of conditions including pain, inflammation, allergies, arthritis, parasitic infections and the maintenance of normal keratin levels in hair, skin and nails. Despite its popularity, there is little published toxicology data on MSM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxicity of MSM in rats at a dose five to seven times the maximum recommended dose in humans. MSM administered in a single gavage dose of 2 g/kg resulted in no adverse events or mortality. MSM administered as a daily dose of 1.5 g/kg for 90 days by gavage resulted in no adverse events or mortality. Necropsy did not reveal any gross pathological lesions or changes in organ weights. Renal histology of treated animals was normal. It is concluded that MSM is well tolerated in rats at an acute dose of 2 g/kg and at a subacute chronic dose of 1.5 g/kg.

PMID: 12387309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Sulfur in human nutrition and applications in medicine.

Parcell S.

American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research (AIBMR), Tacoma, WA, USA. steveparcell@attbi.com

Because the role of elemental sulfur in human nutrition has not been studied extensively, it is the purpose of this article to emphasize the importance of this element in humans and discuss the therapeutic applications of sulfur compounds in medicine. Sulfur is the sixth most abundant macromineral in breast milk and the third most abundant mineral based on percentage of total body weight. The sulfur-containing amino acids (SAAs) are methionine, cysteine, cystine, homocysteine, homocystine, and taurine. Dietary SAA analysis and protein supplementation may be indicated for vegan athletes, children, or patients with HIV, because of an increased risk for SAA deficiency in these groups. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a volatile component in the sulfur cycle, is another source of sulfur found in the human diet. Increases in serum sulfate may explain some of the therapeutic effects of MSM, DMSO, and glucosamine sulfate. Organic sulfur, as SAAs, can be used to increase synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), glutathione (GSH), taurine, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). MSM may be effective for the treatment of allergy, pain syndromes, athletic injuries, and bladder disorders. Other sulfur compounds such as SAMe, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), taurine, glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, and reduced glutathione may also have clinical applications in the treatment of a number of conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, athletic injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS. Dosages, mechanisms of action, and rationales for use are discussed. The low toxicological profiles of these sulfur compounds, combined with promising therapeutic effects, warrant continued human clinical trails.

Publication Types:

  • Review
  • Review, Tutorial


PMID: 11896744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Use of polar solvents in chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer.

O'Dwyer PJ, McCabe DP, Sickle-Santanello BJ, Woltering EA, Clausen K, Martin EW Jr.

Department of Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210.

To examine the effect of the polar solvents on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer, 100 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to a control and three treatment groups. Treated animals received N-methylformamide (NMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) added to drinking water 1 week before carcinogen injections commenced and for the duration of the experiment. Primary tumors were detected by serial laparotomy under ether anesthesia performed at 2-month intervals and commencing after carcinogen injections had been completed. The average time to tumor onset was significantly delayed in rats receiving NMF and MSM (P = 0.0141 and 0.0398 respectively, Mantel-Haenszel test). In addition, fewer poorly differentiated tumors were noted in treatment groups. No weight loss or toxicity was observed. These findings demonstrate that the polar solvents significantly reduce the latent period to tumor onset in DMH-induced colon cancer and indicate the need to further investigate such compounds as chemopreventive agents.

PMID: 3409175 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

Childs SJ.

Department of Surgery, University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa.

DMSO2 is one alternative for treating interstitial cystitis. Research with this compound is very limited, but side effects have been negligible. The drug may hold promise for interstitial cystitis patients, as well as those suffering from painful bladder (urethral) syndrome.

Publication Types:

  • Case Reports


PMID: 8284850 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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References

  1. Richmond VL. Incorporation of methylsulfonylmethane sulfur into guinea pig serum proteins. Life Sci 1986;39:263-8.
  2. O'Dwyer PJ, et al. Use of polar solvents in chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Cancer 1988;62:944-8.
  3. McCabe D, et al. Polar solvents in the chemoprevention of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced rat mammary cancer. Arch Surg 1986;62:1455-9.
  4. Klandorf H, et al. Dimethyl sulfoxide modulation of diabetes onset in NOD mice. Diabetes 1998;62:194-7.
  5. 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. [Article in Russian]. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter 1991;37-9.
  6. Mother Nature Products website: www.mothernature.com (Accessed 23 July 1999)
  7. Herschler R. Methylsulfonylmethane in dietary products. US patent no. 4,616,039; 1986.
  8. Allen LV. Methyl sulfonylmethane for snoring. US Pharmacist 2000;92-4.
  9. Hucker HB, Ahmad PM, Miller EA, et al. Metabolism of dimethyl sulphoxide to dimethyl sulphone in the rat and man. Nature 1966;209:619-20.
  10. Jacob S, Lawrence RM, Zucker M. The Miracle of MSM: The Natural Solution for Pain. New York: Penguin-Putnam, 1999.
  11. Barrager E, Veltmann JR Jr, Schauss AG, Schiller RN. A multicentered, open-label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Altern Complement Med 2002;8:167-73 .