MSM for joints: everything you need to know about methylsulfonylmethane

Sport is an activity that most of us cannot imagine life without. And while there's no doubt about the health benefits of all-round exercise, there's no need to kid ourselves - our joints take a beating when we play sport. And we usually don't even pay attention to them until they start to hurt. So how do we take care of our joints? Maybe by supplementing with MSM! In today's article, we will discuss this substance in as much detail as possible and recommend specific products.

Article content:

• What is MSM?
• What is MSM?
• What are the benefits of MSM?
• What is MSM good to combine with? When to be careful?
• How and when to dose MSM?
• Which specific products do we recommend?

What is MSM?

MSM is an easy-to-remember abbreviation for a substance called methylsulfonylmethane, an organic compound based on sulphur. Together with glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen, it is the most important substance recommended for the prevention of joint pain and the possible treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders. However, unlike all of the substances mentioned above, it is anti-inflammatory, so it can also provide pain relief for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (such as osteoporosis).

Unlike many other joint preparations, methylsulfonylmethane can also help relieve pain in some cases.

Is it also found in the normal diet?

MSM is certainly not a rare food ingredient, on the contrary, you will find it in many products consumed daily. Dairy products, coffee, tomatoes, apples, leafy greens and whole grains are particularly rich in MSM. The problem is that any heat treatment can reduce the amount of MSM in the food, and if you regularly play sports or put your musculoskeletal system under a lot of strain, for example through hard physical work, supplementation is also advisable.

What are the benefits of MSM?

MSM has a number of benefits both in terms of preventive use and in terms of use in more advanced stages of musculoskeletal disorders. Scientific studies have found, among other things, that:

MSM reduces pain and inflammatory processes

As we have already indicated above, MSM, unlike most other substances, can reduce pain and influence inflammatory processes, as has been shown in a number of studies comparing MSM with placebo. At the same time, scientific evidence shows that MSM can increase levels of glutathione, a very important antioxidant.

MSM is good to take both preventively and after the onset of pain and at various stages of disease.

It can improve recovery after exercise

For many athletes, it will certainly be a welcome benefit to discover that MSM supplementation can ensure proper recovery in addition to joint health. Specific observations found that a group of women who took 3 grams of MSM in the three weeks prior to a half marathon experienced both less joint soreness and less muscle soreness, which appears to occur through MSM's ability to increase levels of certain antioxidants.

Supports immune system functioning

MSM is increasingly being talked about as a substance that can support the proper functioning of the immune system. This is primarily linked to the effects of sulphur, according to scientific papers, and therefore other compounds could have the same effect, but MSM is well used and affordable.

Sulphur is often neglected in our diets, yet it is extremely important.

It ensures skin and hair health

The health of our skin is taken care of by a compound called keratin (not to be confused with creatine), which consists of sulphur, among other things. According to studies, the sulphur in MSM can therefore slow down the signs of premature ageing, such as wrinkles. Similarly, hair contains cysteine, which contains a sulphur atom. Here, scientific work suggests that when combined with magnesium in the form of ascorbyl phosphate, MSM may lead to improved alopecia problems in mice.

It may be potentially beneficial in osteoarthritis

There can be no doubt that MSM is a great preventative and in some cases helps reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it. However, when it comes to osteoarthritis or other advanced musculoskeletal diseases, the available studies seem quite inconclusive and the results depend on many aspects. What is clear, however, is that in the case of such complications, it is appropriate to set up an appropriate treatment with your treating physician, not to reach primarily for an over-the-counter supplement.

What is MSM good to combine with? When to be careful?

Much of the research that has been done suggests that MSM should be used in combination with other substances rather than MSM alone, which is why we would also recommend reaching primarily for more complex products such as either the popular Alavis or our great-tasting 100% Joint Protect.

On the other hand, there are also cases when to be careful with MSM. Since it can have a mildly anticoagulant effect on the blood, it should not be used with blood thinners, non-steroidal antiphlogistics and anti-rheumatic drugs such as Ibuprofen. If you have any doubts about possible interactions or are unsure, it is definitely a good idea to consult your doctor about the situation. There is also some evidence of a possible interaction between MSM and alcohol, but sufficient and relevant research on this issue is lacking.

How and when to dose MSM?

The dosage of MSM depends primarily on why you want to take it. From the point of view of prevention, the doses contained in complex products - usually between one and three grams - are sufficient. However, observations suggest that even doses in excess of 4 grams have no negative consequences for most people. However, more sensitive individuals may experience abdominal pain or nausea. In this case, it is appropriate to either reduce the dosage or stop taking the supplement altogether.

As a preventive measure, it is sufficient to take one to two grams of MSM, but in case of difficulties, it is possible to increase to 4 grams in the short term.

Which specific products do we recommend?

In conclusion, specific recommendations are useful. As mentioned above, we definitely recommend taking a combination of MSM with other active ingredients for prevention, with most products using the proven trio of chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM. Some of the very popular products we can recommend include Alavis, Joint Care Drink, Joint Max, or our new 100% Joint Protect, which we've created to be as effective as possible, but also taste great and be affordable. However, if you just want MSM at any price, we can recommend either Alavis MSM for horses or another pure MSM product in our store.