MSM (2012) & Osteoarthritis
Learn more about osteoarthritis.
Because MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is commonly believed to relieve inflammation the researchers wanted to examine the effectiveness and safety of the ingredient.
In this animal model study, appropriately modeling human osteoarthritis, they looked at cartilage formation and break-down. For cartilage formation, rats and mice were give a control or one of several MSM containing diets. Consumption of the MSM ingredient did not affect cartilage growth and the weights of body, liver and spleen were markedly lower in one of the groups receiving MSM.
They did find that the MSM ingredient did significantly decrease cartilage deterioration - doing so more markedly the higher the dose.
They concluded that MSM did protect cartilage, but that intake of large amounts of MSM brought about atrophy of several organs.
Researchers: Ezaki J, Hashimoto M, Hosokawa Y, Ishimi Y., Department of Food Function and Labeling, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8636, Japan.
Published: Assessment of safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane on bone and knee joints in osteoarthritis animal model, J Bone Miner Metab. 2012 Aug 10.