The March 2017 issue of Nutrients recently featured a review of the nutritional supplement, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), in which an abundance of data, research and insight was compiled into one in-depth document. The full article, titled “Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement,” provides an overview of MSM and includes details regarding its common uses and applications as a dietary supplement, as well as its safety for consumption. 

“Researchers have been studying MSM since the 1950s, with ample bodies of scientific work pointing to uses extending far beyond joint health applications,” said Richard Bloomer, PhD, Professor and Director, School of Health Studies, University of Memphis and co-author of the review. “With this review, we’re attempting to make it easier for our colleagues to discover all there is to know about MSM in one document.”

The Description and History section of the document delves into how researchers first discovered MSM’s role in mitigating inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, interstitial cystitis, allergic rhinitis and acute exercise-induced inflammation—what MSM is most known for today. But beyond that, the review touches on how patents from the 1980s claimed MSM smoothed and softened skin, strengthened nails, or diluted blood. This section also unravels MSM’s synthesis process, while examining its sulfur makeup, absorption and bioavailability. 

Rather than just listing what MSM helps with, full details on how MSM serves as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune modulator and sulfur donor are detailed in the Mechanism of Actions section. The document links to countless studies throughout the Common Uses section, however, references are cited throughout the entire document, with a total of 195 references included.