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Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur-containing
compound that is found naturally in different levels in many fruits,
vegetables, grains, and in animals. Trace amounts of this compound
are also found in human beings. Significant amounts of MSM have also
been found in common medicinal herbs such as horsetail. The
biological role of MSM, if any, is not entirely understood. MSM is a
metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide or DMSO. It is believed that some
of the possible effects of DMSO may be attributed to MSM.
A
few animal studies indicate that sulfur from oral supplementation of
MSM is incorporated in body proteins. These same studies have shown
that joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA) have lower sulfur
content, and animals with arthritis given MSM appear to experience
less joint deterioration. According to a preliminary report, a human
study of patients suffering from osteoarthritis found that MSM, in
the amount of 2,250 mg daily, alleviated pain after only one and a
half months.
Dosage and
Administration
Some health professionals anecdotally
have said that 250-500 mg per day may be beneficial when used in
connection with a variety of health problems. However, the only
somewhat reputable studies have employed MSM at 2000 mg per day for
osteoarthritis. There are no reliable recommendations for MSM
supplementation due to a lack of reliable
information.
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