MSM Benefits For Health And Beauty: Methylsulfonylmethane As A Dietary Supplement
Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, is a popular dietary supplement that acts as a natural source of sulfur. You may associate sulfur with the stench of rotten eggs, but pure sulfur has no smell. What it does have, however, is a long list of uses in the body. Read on to discover MSM benefits for your health, beauty, and well-being.
What Is MSM?
MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulfur. It can be found in cow’s milk, meat, seafood, grains, fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, and beer. It can also be consumed as a dietary supplement. Taken as a supplement, MSM supports an increase in the amount of sulfur in your body.1
How Does MSM Work In The Body?
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) supplies the body with extra sulfur, one of the nutrients your body needs to function. Your body uses sulfur to:
- Create essential amino acids like cysteine, glutathione, and methionine2
- Form connective tissue
- Promote cartilage and collagen health
- Metabolize foods
- Absorb nutrients
- Control free radicals
- Create and repair DNA3,4
Practically speaking, giving your body a boost of MSM may be able to help support:
- Skin health
- Joint health
- Immune health
- Muscle recovery5
MSM Benefits For Health And Beauty
It May Help With Visible Signs Of Aging
Keratin is the main protein in your skin, hair, and nails. It’s the component that gives your skin its structure. Keratin contains large amounts of cysteine, an amino acid that is made up of sulfur.6,7
MSM may be beneficial to your skin health by fortifying keratin with additional sulfur.8 A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found evidence that MSM may help with the appearance of these markers of aging:
- Crow’s feet
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin firmness
- Skin tone
- Skin texture9
It May Support Skin Health
Sulfur in MSM may help support your skins quantity of skin-healthy compounds, like:
- Collagen
- Hyaluronic acid
- Keratohyalin10
All three of these compounds are essential for maintaining healthy skin physiology and hydration. Collagen, in particular, is essential for supporting smooth, firm, and strong skin.11,12,13 These properties all give skin a healthy appearance.14
It May Help Promote Healthy Joints
One of the most popular uses of MSM supplementation is to help with cartilage and joint discomfort. Studies have shown that MSM may help with joint issues that cause discomfort in the knees, back, hands, and hips. Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown that MSM may help with:
- Joint discomfort and stiffness
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty moving up and and down stairs15,16
Another study found that people who took a glucosamine supplement containing MSM experienced:
- Reduced lower back stiffness
- Reduced lower back discomfort
- Improved quality of life17
It May Support Antioxidant Activity In Your Body
MSM supports your body’s levels of glutathione.18 Some scientists call glutathione the “master antioxidant.”19 This is because it recycles other antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and lipoic acid. When you increase glutathione levels, you also boost other antioxidants.20
Sufficient levels of glutathione may help your body with:
- Detoxification
- Getting rid of free radicals
- Supporting the immune system
- Maintaining energy21
It May Support Immune Health
Sulfur compounds like MSM play an important role in the health of your immune system. Sulphur compounds protect the body against oxidative stress and free radical damage. This benefits your body’s immune function.22
MSM plays a role in creating glutathione, one of your body’s most important antioxidants. Maintaining high levels of glutathione is crucial to the function of your immune system.23,24
Should You Try An MSM Dietary Supplement?
Always consult your doctor before you try a new supplement. If you are interested in supporting your body’s collagen, glutathione, and keratin levels, MSM may appeal to you. The supplement is regarded as safe by the FDA. Always seek out the highest quality supplements and speak with your doctor before use.
Sources
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372953/
2. https://www.verywellhealth.com/sulfur-what-should-i-know-about-it-89517
3. https://www.ecronicon.com/ecnu/pdf/ECNU-14-00660.pdf
4. https://selfhacked.com/blog/methylsulfonylmethane-msm/
5. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-msm-88324
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017824/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16702333
8. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2019-11/beneficial-effects-sulfur-containing-supplement-hair-and-nail-condition
9. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2015-11/effects-oral-supplementation-methylsulfonylmethane-skin-health-and-wrinkle-reduction
10. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2015-11/effects-oral-supplementation-methylsulfonylmethane-skin-health-and-wrinkle-reduction
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537049/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18254805
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4502733/
16. https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(05)00285-2/abstract
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3965983/
18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21899544
19. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/glutathione-the-mother-of_b_530494
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630702/
21. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/glutathione-the-mother-of_b_530494
22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2198910/
23 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372953/
24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11115795