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What Is MSM? Many many Shar Pei owners use MSM. Here is some information:
MSM(methyl-sulfony-methane, or dimethyl sulfone) is
organic sulfur, a naturally occurring compound in the human body. In
its purified form, it’s an odorless white crystal with a slightly
bitter taste.
At moderate levels, it helps to ensure the proper functioning of various body processes, including healthy skin, nails and hair.
At
higher levels, it can function as a pharmaceutically active agent for a
variety of uses, including treatment for allergies and asthma,
parasites, digestive disorders, arthritis, muscle soreness and cramps.
Other research hints at the use of MSM in diabetes, mood disorders and other applications.
MSM
and its related compounds-DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) and DMS
(dimethylsulfide) - are the source of nearly all of the sulfur in
humans, plants and animals. The chemical formula for MSM is (CH3)2SO2.
It’s essentially DMSO with an extra oxygen molecule, and as such isn’t
lipid-soluble like DMSO.
Where It Comes From?
In nature, MSM
originates with plankton, which release dimethylsulfonium salts(sulfur
compounds that are transformed into DMS in ocean water). DMS rises as a
gas into the upper atmosphere where it’s oxidized into DMSO and MSM in
the presence of ozone and ultraviolet light. These two compounds
dissolve in atmosphere moisture and return to the earth in rain or
snow. DMSO and MSM then enter the roots of plants through the soil.
In
the plant, sulfur and other minerals are bound to carbon and further
covered into an absorbable form for humans. MSM is present in meat,
fish, eggs, poultry and milk, and in lesser amounts in grains, legumes,
fruits and vegetables—especially onions and garlic (hence the
characteristic odor), asparagus and cruciferous vegetables.
It’s
also found in horsetail herb, spearmint, tea and coffee. But because
mineral depletion of the soil is an ongoing concern, and because MSM is
lost in the storage and preparation of foods, dietary sources may not
be adequate for maintenance levels of MSM—and most certainly are not
adequate for therapeutic levels.
Why The Body Needs MSM?
Sulfur
is an dispensable component in human nutrition. It’s found in every
cell in the body, and is structurally and functionally important to 150
compounds, including hormones, enzymes, antibodies and antioxidants.
Sulfur
itself is held mainly in the muscle, skin, bones, nails and hair. MSM
has been found in the blood, and occurs at about 0.2 parts per million
in an adult man. Ingested, MSM provides the essential sulfur necessary
for a number of body compounds. Sulfur is an essential component of
various compounds and processes in the body, and is necessary for the
synthesis of collagen, immunoglobulin and enzymes.
In the body, sulfur:
* Maintains cell membrane flexibility and permeability, promoting an
efficient exchange of nutrients and waste products. Ensures connective
tissue health and the formation of collagen.
* Provides the body with raw materials needed to create new cells, to repair and replace damaged tissues and organs.
* Figures into energy production, as a component of insulin and prerequisite for normal carbohydrate metabolism.
When
plants take up DMSO and MSM from the soil, they convert them into the
amino acids methionine and cysteine. The two other sulfur-containing
amino acids, taurine and cysteine are further synthesized in the body,
MSM gives up its sulfur to form methionine and cysteine.
The
sulfur-containing amino acids are known to protect against the effects
of radiation and chelate heavy metals for removal from the body. Other
sulfur-containing compounds in the body include:
* insulin, the hormone that regulated carbohydrate metabolism,
* keratin, a protein that’s the primary component of skin, nails, hair and teeth;
* collagen, the protein that forms bones, tendons and connective tissues,
* lucosamine, the building block for tendons and ligaments heart valves, membranes, eyes, nails, skin and bone,
* glutathione, one of the primary antioxidants in the body.
In
theory, an adult should be able to ingest adequate MSM. In practice,
it’s unlikely - again, because of mineral depletion and food processing
and storage techniques. It has been speculated that the body needs
higher amounts of MSM than it may get in a modern diet. In the body,
the highest concentration of MSM is in breast milk - perhaps because a
growing baby needs it to boost a developing immune system, combat
allergens and make an easier transition from umbilical feeding to oral
feeding.
The concentration of MSM in the body begins to decrease over time, so deficiency may occur as part of the aging process.
Sulfur deficiencies are associated with:
* brittle nails and hair,
* scar tissue,
* slow healing wounds,
* arthritis,
* acne or other skin disorders,
* depression,
* memory loss,
* gastrointestinal problems and
* immune disorders.
MSM Benefits
MSM
is an especially versatile supplements, and has been used for a variety
of applications, such as for its anti inflammatory effects and to
reduce acidity in the body, treat gastrointestinal disorders and
constipation, increase circulation and promote connective tissue health.
New
uses include for lupus, snoring, breast cancer, colon cancer,
parasites, muscle soreness and cramps, diabetes, eye health, stress and
mental disorders.
The three most popular and effective application of MSM are in treating asthma, allergies and arthritis.
Asthma:
MSM is useful in treating asthma by regulating the fluid that covers
the airway surface of the lungs, and by preventing an inflammatory
response. It also has a normalizing effect on the membrane surface of
the lung, and helps to regulate the exchange of gases. One study showed
that MSM substantially increased lung capacity in a group of patients
with emphysema and lung tumors.
Allergies: Sulfur is important
in alleviating allergies by detoxifying the cells and eliminating free
radicals. An allergic response happens when the immune system reacts to
substance called allergens, which are foreign bodies in the system. MSM
helps stabilized cell walls and increase permeability and elasticity,
allowing them to flush out toxins and foreign bodies, including
allergens. MSM is also important for enhancing lung function. Studies
have shown that supplement MSM can control allergic responses in only a
few days, and the anti-allergenic properties of MSM are equal in
effectiveness to antihistamine.
Arthritis: Sulfur is critical
for connective tissue health, so MSM is an important component in
treating arthritis and other forms of joint inflammation. In patients
with arthritis, the concentration of sulfur in arthritic cartilage is
only about one-third of normal tissue. MSM can help treat arthritis by
virtue of its anti-inflammatory benefits, and maintaining flexibility
and elasticity of connective tissue. Studies have suggested that MSM
helps improve joint flexibility, reduce stiffness and swelling,
improves circulation, reduce pain associated with arthritis, reduces
scar tissue and breaks up calcium deposits that may be associated with
arthritis.
It also helps to prevent cartilage degeneration: one
study at Oregon Health Science University found that animals that were
given MSM showed no degeneration of cartilage associated with
rheumatoid arthritis.
What Studies Show
A number of clinical trials on MSM demonstrate its usefulness in a broad variety of applications.
Some highlights:
* Snoring. MSM in a 16 percent water solution provided a significant
reduction in snoringin 80 percent of human test subjects.
*
Systemic Lupus erythematosus. MSM was shown to have a protective effect
before and after the onset the disease. Animals who were given MSM in
their water supplies had lower death rates and liverd amage than the
control groups, and had a longer life expectancy.
* Breast and
Colon cancer. Oral MSM may help protect against the onset of breast
cancer. Animals given MSM showed a delayed onset of tumors, equivalent
to 10 years in humans. Dietary MSM also delayed the onset of tumors in
the colon.
* Pain control in arthritis. Human volunteers showed a
60 percent improvement in pain after taking 2.25 grams of MSM per day
for four weeks. After 6 weeks, the improvement rate rose to 82 percent.
* Parasitic infections. Tests suggest that MSM can help lessen or cure
parasitic, microbial and fungal infections at levels of 750 to 1500mg
per day. MSM probably works by competing for receptors sites on mucous
membrane surface thereby blocking parasites.
Safety of MSM
MSM
is considered very safe. Toxicity is extremely rare: the lethal dose of
MSM in mice was found to be more than 20 grams per kilogram of body
weight. No toxic effects were shown in humans given up to one gram per
kilogram of body weight per day for 30 days. Few long-term studies have
been done, but one unpublished study found no side effects or
measurable toxicity in volunteers using MSM during a six month period.
Recommended Dosage
There
is no standard recommendation, but some guidelines suggest between
500mg, and five grams a day for maintenance purposes. Based on studies,
the suggested therapeutic dosage of MSM ranges from 2 grams to 10 grams
a day.
(Courtesy extracted from Vitamin Retailer by Lisa Turner)
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