MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

MSM is a naturally occurring nutrient, which contains sulfur. It is found in normal human diets and the diets of other animals. In nature, it is concentrated in many types of plants, which use the sulfur component of MSM metabolically.

MSM is related to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). DMSO is a medicine that has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory agent and as a treatment for interstitial cystitis.

MSM seems to have many different types of activity, medically speaking. It may play a major role in the regulation of allergic response, primarily through stabilization of histamine metabolism. Oftentimes, MSM, taken orally, can be a significant help in those individuals who have periodic allergic symptoms, such as eye irritation and rhinorrhea.

MSM seems to have some anti-parasitic activity and anti-yeast activity. Specifically, it has been tested against Giardia, which is one of the most common types of water-carried infectious diarrhea present in the United States. Anecdotally, it seems to be effective in women who are prone to frequent yeast infections.

MSM has also been shown to help better control hyper-acidity and symptoms of gastritis. It may be an effective option in patients who would generally take more potent prescription substances, such as Tagamet and Zantac. It would most likely be more effectively used in conjunction with other nutrients known to improve gastrointestinal functions, such as glutamine and deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

In addition, in laboratory studies, MSM has been shown to be helpful in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Also, people who snore tend to have some improvement, which may be related to better allergy management.

MSM also seems to be very effective as an anti-inflammatory agent in certain situations. It might offer effective treatment for various types of arthritis and inflammatory conditions. Given that it is chemically related to DMSO, it is anticipated that MSM will also prove advantageous for many types of conditions for which DMSO has traditionally been used, including interstitial cystitis and various types of inflammatory disorders.

A usual dose is 500-750 mg, two to four capsules daily.

If you have any questions, please contact the Advanced Medical Center.

Dale Guyer, M.D.