Article Highlights:
- MSM (a sulfur compound) supports multiple body systems, especially joint comfort, skin health, and muscle recovery
- It plays a key role in antioxidant defense, energy production, and detoxification
- Dietary sulfur intake may be insufficient for many people
What if one of the most important nutrients for your joints, skin, energy, and detoxification isn’t even on your radar? MSM sulfur is one of the most abundant elements in the human body and plays a vital role in everything from joint comfort and muscle repair to glowing skin, healthy hair, detoxification, and efficient cellular function. If you’re looking to feel stronger, recover faster, and support whole-body health, sulfur deserves a closer look.
The Many Benefits of Sulfur
An important form of sulfur is methylsulfonylmethane or MSM. This an oxidized form of DMSO, an organosulfur compound. In 1981, the first patent was issued for the use of MSM to smooth and soften skin followed by other patents for stress, pain, energy, metabolism, circulation, healing, and more.
Skin and Joint Health
Research confirms the early recognized benefits of MSM for improvements in skin elasticity, reduction of wrinkles and fine lines, and help maintaining healthy pigmentation. Clinical trials demonstrated that 1000 - 3000 mg/day of MSM for 16 weeks improved skin hydration, elasticity, and firmness.
MSM was also recognized early on for its benefits in joint health. Human clinical trials with 2000 mg/day show safety and increased comfort in knee range of motion and overall health. In studies evaluating shoulder tendon health, MSM was effective in reducing levels of oxidative stress, prostaglandin (PGE2) and iNOS.
MSM is often combined with other nutrients for synergistic effects in joint health. Clinical trials demonstrate even greater joint comfort and health when MSM is combined with hyaluronic acid, boswellia, and/or glucosamine.
Furthermore, sulfur enhances glutathione levels, the master antioxidant system for your whole body. When combined, results showed increased tissue antioxidant levels, less PGE2 and COX enzymes levels and improved joint comfort.
Exercise Recovery and Energy
In endurance sports, clinical trials showed that those who used MSM for 28 days or more help protect against protein breakdown, reduced lipid peroxidation and uric acid production, with improvements in glutathione levels. Athletes experience enhanced exercise recovery and energy production with even a single use of MSM.
Cellular Clean-Up, Detoxification, Metabolism, and Bones
MSM also has several metabolic effects that support overall metabolism and cellular clean-up. It induces cell cycle arrest, necrosis, or apoptosis in dysfunctional cells. The liver, a significant detoxification pathway, requires dietary sulfur which is essential for binding onto toxins, modifying and removing them.
Animal studies have shown that MSM improves insulin sensitivity, modulates fat burning of triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism in the liver, and protects bone microarchitecture.
Stomach Lining Protection
MSM provides protective support for the gastric/stomach mucosal lining. It was found to be a key regulator in the mucosal lining where it inhibits oxidative stress which reduced the levels of TNF-a, IL-6, and MMP-9s.
Cellular Physiology
On a greater cellular level, MSM is involved in cell physiology modulating crosstalk of oxidative stress reactions with DNA transcription, NF-kappaB, Nrf2, and downregulating the activities of IL-6, TNF-alpha, iNOS, COX2, etc. throughout the whole body.
MSM regulates the SOD and glutathione antioxidant enzymes which are necessary to quench the reactive oxygen species (ROS) released by the work of energy production. It provides antioxidant protection for mitochondria and modulates mast cell release of histamine.
New Discoveries: Activation of Mitochondrial Complexes
In recent years, scientists have identified additional critical complexes involving sulfur and cell functions. One of these discoveries pertains to an iron-sulfur protein complex found in numerous life forms including human physiology. This complex is deeply involved with cellular respiration and mediating electron transfer in the mitochondrial respiratory complex I, II, and III stages of energy production.
Iron-sulfur complexes have regulatory roles with moderating oxygen and iron levels and gene expression in response to oxidative stress. They are involved with DNA metabolism, repair, and protein structural stability. In large blood vessels, it has been found that these iron-sulfur clusters act as oxygen sensors. Researchers have great interest in further exploring iron-sulfur clusters as targets for health management.
Food Sources and Increased Needs
MSM is naturally absorbed from the soil and is found in small amounts in fruits (apples, raspberries), vegetables (garlic, onion, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, alfalfa sprouts), grains, coffee, tea, and beer. Raw milk is the richest source of MSM. The amino acids, methionine and cysteine found in predominantly dietary animal protein also contribute to sulfur levels.
Those on vegetarians/plant-based diets, the elderly, fast food consumers, those who are ill or recovering from trauma, and pregnant and nursing mothers require higher sulfur intake due to limited intake and/or increased physiological demands. Scientists propose that a disproportionate number of people, especially the elderly and those on restrictive diets, do not obtain minimal adequate dietary sulfur intake.
Optimizing Support
If you would like to optimize your MSM sulfur intake, we have some excellent options.
Hair, Skin, & Nails provides 333 mg per capsule of OptiMSM ® combined with high amounts of biotin, Cynatine® solubilized keratin, bamboo extract (silica), grape seed extract, and lycopene. This specialty formulation provides excellent support and protection for skin, hair, nails, overall collagen elasticity and more.
Strengthener Plus provides 200 mg of MSM per capsule. It is combined with 25 mg zinc balanced with 3 mg copper, bamboo extract (silica), and vitamin B6. It is often used for bones, joints, nails, immune, and general-purpose support.
Sulfur Plus provide 500 mg MSM per capsule with biotin and trimethylglycine (TMG). Customers find this helpful for hair, skin, nails, joint, gut, brain, mood, detoxification, and respiratory support.
MSM may be combined Hyaluronic Acid, JointAll, Bone & Joint Helper, Collagen Peptides, Glutathione Ultra and other nutrients for synergistic support.
MSM has an excellent safety record and works synergistically with many other nutrients. Sulfur is used daily in your body and must be replenished to keep up with demands. Consider added support if your hair, skin, or nails lack vibrancy, your joints feel stiff, you want to maintain healthy respiratory function, or you’re sensitive to scents, chemicals, or environmental toxin exposures. Check out more in-depth information below and share it with a friend!
Additional Resources:
MSM Sulfur – Nature’s Beauty Mineral Inside and Out
MSM Sulfur Helps Joints, Collagen, Skin Strength, and More
OptiMSM Sulfur: Key for Body Repair, Exercise Recovery and Hair Strength
Best Nutrients for Detoxification Supportlin
