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Methylsulfonylmethane

 
Drug Info: Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM
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Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM Oral Dosage Forms

What are Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM oral dosage forms?

METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE (also known as MSM) is a dietary supplement. MSM is claimed to work for many problems like allergies and osteoarthritis, but there is little evidence to support these uses at this time. MSM is not beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, a different condition than osteoarthritis. MSM is not officially endorsed by the FDA for any purpose. MSM tablets, capsules and powder for oral use are available. Some products also contain glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamin C, or citrus bioflavonoids.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

It is important for you to tell your prescriber or health care professional or other health care professional that you are using methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Although interactions with other drugs have not been noted, it is important that your health care provider is aware that you are taking this supplement.

You should discuss methylsulfonylmethane with your health care professional BEFORE taking it if you have any of these conditions:
• an unusual reaction to methylsulfonylmethane, MSM, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should this medicine be used?

Methylsulfonylmethane powder for oral solution, tablets, and capsules should be taken orally (i.e., swallowed) with a full glass of water. Follow the directions on the package label, or ask your health care professional for directions.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this supplement in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

Missing a dose is probably not harmful. If you miss a dose, simply resume taking it on your previous schedule. Do not take double doses or extra doses to catch up, however.

What drug(s) may interact with Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM?

Interactions between MSM and other medications are unknown. That is why you should be careful when mixing MSM with traditional medications. Although interactions with other drugs have not been noted, it is important that your health care provider is aware you are taking this supplement.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM?

If you notice any changes in your physical health while taking MSM, you should contact your health care provider.

Different brands of MSM might contain different amounts of active ingredient so be careful to use the same brand. It is recommended that you use a brand from a reliable manufacturer. Products also vary in the other included ingredients, which may affect the efficacy or expected side effects of the product. Your health care professional or pharmacist can assist you in finding a product.

What side effects may I notice from receiving Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM?

If you notice any side effects from MSM, tell your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible. Other ingredients are included in some MSM products. Check the product label for other ingredients, as they may be the cause of any side effect.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 8 and 25 degrees C (46 and 77 degrees F); do not freeze. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS:
Dietary supplements include amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other plant-derived substances, and extracts of these substances. Products are easy to identify as they must state 'Dietary Supplement' on the label. A 'Supplement Facts' panel is provided on the label for most products. Supplements are not drugs and are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. You should note that rigid quality control standards are not required for dietary supplements. Differences in the potency and purity of these products can occur. Scientific data to support the use of a dietary supplement for a certain condition may not be available. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The Food and Drug Administration suggests the following to help consumers protect themselves:
• Always read product labels and follow directions.
• Look for products containing ingredients with the 'USP' notation. This indicates the manufacturer followed the standards of the US Pharmacopoeia.
• 'Natural' doesn't mean a product is safe for humans to consume.
• Supplements produced or distributed by a nationally known food or drug company are more likely to be made under tight controls as these companies have standards in place for their other products. You can write to the company or manufacturer for more information about the conditions under which the products are made.

Last updated: 12/6/2002 4:43:00 PM

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

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Wikipedia: Methylsulfonylmethane
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Methylsulfonylmethane
Methylsulfonylmethane
Dimethylsulfone
IUPAC name
Other names methyl sulfone
methylsulfonylmethane
sulfonylbismethane
DMSO2
Identifiers
CAS number 67-71-0 Yes check.svgY
RTECS number PB2785000
SMILES
Properties
Molecular formula C2H6O2S
Molar mass 94.13 g/mol
Appearance white crystalline solid
Density 1.45 g/cm3
Melting point

109 °C (382 K)
Boiling point

238 °C (511 K)
Solubility in water  ?
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
S-phrases 24/25
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
1
1
0
 
Flash point 143 °C
Related compounds
Related compounds DMSO
dimethyl sulfide
dimethyl sulfate
sulfolane
 Yes check.svgY (what is this?)  (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2SO2. It is also known by several other names: DMSO2, MSM, methylsulfonylmethane and methyl sulfone. [1] This colourless solid features the sulfone functional group and is considered relatively inert chemically. It occurs naturally in some primitive plants and is present in small amounts in many foods and beverages and it is marketed as a dietary supplement, although its benefits are disputed.

Contents

Structure and chemical properties

MSM is structurally related to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), but the behavior of these two is different. DMSO is a highly polar solvent and an excellent ligand, with water-like dissolving properties whereas MSM is relatively less polar and less reactive. MSM is also a metabolite of DMSO.

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 in organic synthesis. For example, displacement of aryl chlorides by potassium fluoride can be usefully conducted in molten MSM.[2] With a pKa of 31, it can be deprotonated with sodium amide, and the conjugate base is an effective nucleophile.

Effects on health

MSM is promoted as a natural source of sulfur by the supplement and health food industry, suggesting that people are deficient in sulfur intake.[citation needed] There is no Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) or Daily Value established for sulfur. 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. The biochemical effects of supplemental methylsulfonylmethane are poorly understood. Some researchers have suggested that MSM has anti-inflammatory effects.[3][4] Any health effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) may be mediated, at least in part, by MSM.[5][6] Stanley W. Jacob, M.D., of the Oregon Health and Science University, reports using MSM to treat over 18,000 patients with a variety of ailments.[7] According to one review, "The benefits claimed far exceed the number of scientific studies. It is hard to build a strong case for its use other than for treating arthritis problems."[8]

Evidence from clinical trials

Clinical evidence for the usefulness of MSM consists of published studies on both animals and humans. These 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.

  • 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[9] The results of the Usha clinical trial are suspect. It was conducted in India by researchers with very little prior experience in clinical trials. Tests are described in Methods but no data presented, and for other tests statements in Results and Discussion are not supported by the data shown. Discussion statements are not supported by the references cited. Placebo group results did not significantly change from baseline, whereas in osteoarthritis trials there is typically a 30-40% improvement in the placebo group. Kim et al. conducted a double-blind clinical trial of MSM for treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-five patients took 6000 mg/day MSM and 25 patients took a placebo for 12 weeks. Ten patients did not complete the study, and intention to treat analysis was performed. Patients who took MSM had significantly reduced pain and improved physical functioning, without major adverse events. 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.[10] Not counting the unpublished, no control group trial by Lawrence, these two articles are the only clinical trial support for MSM for osteoarthritis.
  • Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Barrager et al. evaluated the efficacy of MSM for hayfever.[11] 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 dimethyl sulfoxide (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.[12]
  • Snoring: Blum & Blum conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of an MSM-containing throat spray for snoring.[13]

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.[14]

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have demonstrated that oral doses of MSM are absorbed into the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier.[15][16] 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.[17]

The published clinical trials of MSM did not report any serious side-effects of treatment, but there are no peer-reviewed data on the effects of long-term use in humans.

References

  1. ^ Various Names for MSM Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  2. ^ Georges Hareau and Philip Kocienski, "Dimethyl Sulfone" in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis 2001 John Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/047084289X.rd371
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ Williams KIH, Burstein SH, Layne DS. Dimethyl sulfone: isolation from cows’ milk. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1966;122:865–6. PMID 5918965
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ MSM the Definitive Guide: The Nutritional Breakthrough for Arthritis, Allergies and More. Freedom Press. 2003. ISBN 9781893910225. http://www.amazon.com/MSM-Definitive-Guide-Nutritional-Breakthrough/dp/1893910229. 
  8. ^ "Pharmacists review the effectiveness, benefits and side effects of MSM". http://www.natural-remedies-review.com/msm.html. 
  9. ^ 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):353–63
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ Childs SJ. Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. Urol Clin North Am 1994;21:85–8. PMID 8284850
  13. ^ Blum JM, Blum RI. The effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the control of snoring. Integrative Medicine 2004;3(6)24-30
  14. ^ Horváth K, Noker PE, Somfai-Relle S, et al. Toxicity of methylsulfonylmethane in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40:1459–62. PMID 12387309
  15. ^ 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
  16. ^ 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
  17. ^ 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

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