Hello everyone! Today I would like to share with you the benefits of MSM and how it can potentially reduce joint pain dramatically.
WHAT IS METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE?
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring sulfur compound and nutritional component of many foods. It is found in the normal diets of humans and almost all other vertebrates. The proper chemical name for MSM is dimethyl sulfone. It is the primary, oxidized metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide, and it appears to share many of its parent compound’s therapeutic properties.
HOW DOES MSM WORK?
While more specific research is needed, it is believed that because MSM contains sulfur, a vital element in the composition of virtually all connective tissue, it is thought to help repair damaged connective tissue (for example, in joints) rather than simply suppressing symptoms associated with joint degeneration.MSM is thought to deliver sulfur to the body in a usable way. Sulfur helps maintain the structure of connective tissue by forming cross-linkages through disulfide bonds, i.e., sulfur strengthens the tissues that make up the joint.
Sulfur is critical to good joint health. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are the fundamental building blocks of joint cartilage, and GAG molecules are linked together in chains by disulfide bonds. As the name implies, these bonds are between two sulfur atoms. The disulfide bridges reduce conformational flexibility of GAG chains, making cartilage firm and resilient. Cartilage integrity is thus a sulfur-dependent state.
MSM contains a lot of sulfur – 34% by weight. While more research is needed to determine how the body absorbs the sulfur it needs from MSM, preliminary studies in mice and in horses suggest that the sulfur in MSM is incorporated into proteins and into joint tissues.
MSM RECOMMENDED DOSAGE
The recommended dosage is 1,500 to 6,000 mg of MSM per day. This is based on two double-blind studies of MSM for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Some people achieve results in as little as a week, but most research indicates that MSM may take more time to reduce joint problems.
SOURCE:
http://www.msmguide.com/jointpain/
Yours in Super Duper Joint Health!
Jeff Parness M.Ed.
