MSM

• MSM helps builds the body's natural barriers against toxins, allergens and parasites.
• MSM helps fortify collagen and connective tissue, maintaining healthy joints.
• MSM promotes soft, smooth skin, lustrous hair and strong nails.

MSM is a naturally occurring compound found in our bodies and in many common foods, including Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, eggs axe peppers. However many common food preparation techniques, including washing, steaming, cooking and drying can reduce MSM levels in food. Studies have also shown that MSM levels in the body decrease with age.

Many years of clinical use at Oregon Health Sciences University has demonstrated that MSM provides the following pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits without serious side effects:

• Inhibition of pain impulses along nerve fibers (analgesia)
• Lessening of inflammation
• Increase in blood supply
• Reduction of muscle spasm
• Softening of scar tissue

MSM is often so effective for pain relief that doctors are able to lower the dosage of medication they prescribe for patients. Sometimes, they are even able to discontinue the medication altogether. The end result is relief along with fewer or no side effects that are frequently caused by prescriptive medications.

Athletes have relied on MSM to relieve the pain of strained muscles and overextended joints for some time. More recently researchers have turned their attention to how the anti- inflammatory properties of MSM can be used to effectively treat arthritis.

Arthritis is an inflammation that begins when toxins around the cell walls in the body create a leathery membrane that keeps fluid and toxins in the cell. The cell begins to swell with fluid, putting pressure on nerve endings and creating intense pain. Organic sulfur is the fourth- most abundant mineral in our bodies.

It makes cells permeable so fluids can flow freely through the cell wall, thus removing toxins in the cell, reducing inflammation and promoting healing. But every time the body removes the invading toxins, it also removes the sulfur compound that neutralizes the toxins in the first place, according to Stanley W. Jacob, M.D., Gerlinger professor at the Department of Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences.

In therapeutic trials, MSM has been found to produce these significant benefits with no side effects:

ALLERGIES
In studies, the need for anti-allergy medications was dramatically reduced with MSM.

ARTHRITIS
Users reported long-lasting relief from inflammation, swelling and stiffness with 100 to 500 mg of MSM in their daily diets.

SPORTS PAIN
Athletes report remarkable relief from muscle spasms, soreness and leg cramps.

MIGRAINES
Migraine sufferers report substantial relief at oral doses of 50-500mg/day of MSM.

CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Prompt and continuing relief was seen in studies with 100 to 500 mg of MSM/day.

PARASITIC INFECTIONS
Studies show MSM to be effective against a variety of parasitic, fungal and microbial problems of the intestinal and urogenital tracts.

Advantages of MSM

Current Literature Review of reported Animal and Human studies

Methylsulfonylmethane, known commonly as MSM, is a metabolite of DMS0 (dimethylsulfoxide) found within nature. Conversion to MSM from DMS0 is accomplished enzymatically. Much of the information regarding the efficacy of MSM is in anecdotal form. This paper will review available scientific information on this product, including background, chemical activity, dosage and toxicity levels, and currently known applications.

Background
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is known to be a self-solvent and an active carrier, crossing membranes without damage. Found extensively in nature, DMS0 has analgesic properties, works as an anti-inflammatory, stimulates synthesis of growth hormone and also has a bacteriostatic effect. The major drawback to all of this is the associated strong odor, along with the resultant foul breath and skin irritation that result from even mild exposure to DMSO.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a stable metabolite of DMS0, presents a dramatic improvement over what had previously been available. MSM is an odorless, virtually tasteless, white crystalline substance. The key portion of MSM is the sulfur component. Sulfur is necessary for the proper formation of proteins. One of the essential components in all life forms, sulfur is involved in amino acid production, connective tissue, skin, hair and nails, (in animals, hide and hooves,) enzymes, hormones and immunoglobulins. MSM, which contains 34% bio-available sulfur by weight, is found naturally in many foods (fresh meat, fish, milk, various vegetables and plants), but is volatile and lost with even the mildest processing. For example, this was noted in animal diets because MSM is present in measurable quantities in alfalfa, a legume forage for animals, but it is almost non-detectable in dried hay. Similar deficiencies are noted in most processed foods for humans.

In addressing the possibility of sulfur deficiencies, methionine, another bio- available sulfur source, is likely used by the body as a back-up mechanism in an MSM or sulfur-deficient situations. The major difference between suggesting supplementation with methionine or MSM is that methionine has well-defined toxicity levels, while MSM has been compared to water regarding toxic levels. This will be discussed further along in this paper.

Biological Activity
The affects of MSM are thought to be from the intact molecule, acting as a sulfur donor to repair and restore damaged covalent disulfide bonds and in sulfhydral groups that are part of enzymes. Relationships have been established in human trials between abnormal physiological symptoms and low MSM blood levels. This would indicate deficiency scenarios. MSM appears to work only in cases of abnormality, and is inactive when presented in a healthy situation.

Experimentally, tagged S35 derived from MSM, was found in liver, kidney, and blood (plasma and cells) within twenty-four hours of administration. The labeled sulfur also showed up in the sub-cellular fractions of the tissues mentioned, i.e., mitochondrial, lysosomal, microsomal and nuclear portions. Other studies have shown that the labeled sulfur portion of MSM was incorporated into the amino acid cystine, throughout the body. When administered orally, traces of the sulfur compound are found in the saliva, perspiration, exhaled air, urine, and trace amounts in the feces.

Toxicity and Dosage Levels
There are naturally occurring concentrations of MSM in the human system of 0.2- 0.25 PPM. This presumably from the concentrations found in foodstuffs. The systemic concentration of MSM decreases with age, possibly due to changes in dietary habits. In bovine milk, concentrations range from 2-6 ppm, while concentration in other foods range from 0.6 ppm in tomatoes to 0.11 ppm in corn.

When administered as a supplement, residence time (based on, radio-labeled S3 5) can be for several weeks. This is compared to DM50, which is resident for only five days post-administration, illustrating one of the primary differences in the spectrum of activity between the two compounds. In man, percutaneous application results in evidence of MSM for up to three weeks, and one week after intravenous administration.

MSM has been found to be non-toxic as a dilutent for blood. LD-50 has been determined in rats, and is in excess of 20 g/kg BW/d. This is in comparison to NaCI, or common salt (generally given in ad Jib amounts) which has an LD-50 of 2.5 g/kg BW/d. No toxicity was reported in dogs receiving 3 g/kg BW/d over a period of 30 days, administered both orally and intravenously, although there was a drop in hematocrit during the later stages of the IV study. This drop returned to normal in the post-treatment period.

Maintenance levels of MSM have been determined to be as low as 0.5-1.0 mg/kg BW/daily in man. Dosage has not been determined for therapeutic applications. In the animal studies, dosage levels varied widely. It was demonstrated that supplementation prior to high stress periods (such as transportation of chickens and calves) produced beneficial results. MSM was supplemented in the range of 1-5 mg/kg BW/d for a period of 2-4 weeks prior to exposure. MSM has also been used very extensively with horses with beneficial results. Although there have been no definitive dosages determined for horses, maintenance estimates are calculated based on a 500kg horse eating fresh forage. Daily intake in this situation is estimated a 1-2 mg/kg BW/d for maintenance, or 0. 15 % to 0. 17% of the total ration.

Other animal studies in mice have demonstrated remarkable experimental responses to the administration of MSM. MSM was given daily, via the drinking water, at a rate of 6-8 g/kg BW/d to auto-immune prone mice. All of the mice showed decreases in development of anemia, lymphadenopathy and antinuclear antibodies. There was also a marked lifespan extension (to 10 months versus 5.5 months in the control group). In trials conducted on humans, there was increased titers of primary 1gM and secondary IgG.

Other anecdotal animal studies are also revealing. A mare suffering from pleuritis showed no response over six weeks to conventional antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. The mare was placed on 24 g of MSM, administered twice daily for a period of five days. Response was dramatic, in that by the fifth day, the animal no longer exhibited shallow, rapid breathing and upon auscultation of the chest, was deemed normal.

Similar non-scientific field trials in have noted dramatic improvement in poor hoof quality in horses that were not allowed to forage on fresh hay. The amount needed to improve hoof quality is in the range of 2.5-10 g/d.5 Further work needs to be carried out in order to determine correct dosage levels for therapeutic treatments.

MSM has been tested in trials with laboratory rats for its effectiveness against various parasitic infections. Given feed and water ad Jib, both containing 2% by weight MSM, fecal samples carrying pinworms showed clear in 17 days.5 Tissues were seen to return to normal, likely due to the binding action on MSM, creating a blocking surface on the soft tissues.

Applications
Based on the review of numerous animal studies and anecdotal reports, the following potential applications have been identified:

• Improvement of osteoarthritic conditions - general improvement is seen in overall joint mobility.
• Reduction of lung dysfunction - without the drawback of immune suppression as found with steroids.
• Moderation of allergic response - reduced negative response to inhaled allergens.
• Control of hyperacidity - many performance horses are thought to suffer from some degree of acid-induced ulceration s as a result high carbohydrate diets. MSM appears to bind with the mucous membranes, creating a paint-like coating.
• Anti-parasitic action - control of infections of the intestinal and urinogenital tracts.
• Active against physiological responses to stress - gastrointestinal distress, inflammation of mucous membranes, allergic reactions.
• Regulation of inmiune function - possible health maintenance benefits, reducing the use of therapeutic drugs.
• Increased growth hormones - treatment of Developmental Orthopedic Disease, such as epiphysitis.