Supplement
MSM, short for methylsulfonylmethane, is a sulfur-containing compound that the body can use to build connective tissue like cartilage, and it may also have mild anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Most people look at it for osteoarthritis, and a small trial found knee osteoarthritis symptoms improved, though the evidence is limited. That study was small, at 148 people, so the picture is still preliminary and needs larger trials to confirm it.
Sources: PMID 21708034
- Updated
- How we grade
- 7 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 6
- Outcomes
- 15
- Graded outcomes
- 0051
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise-Induced Oxidation Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 18 people | ||
Studies that measured exercise-induced oxidation | ||||||
| Fatigue Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 8 people | ||||
| Muscle Damage | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 18 people | |||
Studies that measured muscle damage | ||||||
| Muscle Soreness | Improves (the measure goes down) | 8 people | ||||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 44 people | ||||
| Training Volume | Improves (the measure goes up) | 8 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 148 people | ||
Studies that measured osteoarthritis symptoms | ||||||
| Pain | Improves (the measure goes down) | 50 people | ||||
Metabolic Health
- Muscle Damage: improves
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Damage Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 18 people | ||
Studies that measured muscle damage | ||||||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 18 people | ||||
General Athletic Performance
- Muscle Damage: improves
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Damage Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 18 people | ||
Studies that measured muscle damage | ||||||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 18 people | ||||
Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
- Allergy Symptoms: improves
- Nasal Congestion: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergy Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 55 people | |||
| Nasal Congestion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 55 people | |||
Studies that measured nasal congestion | ||||||
Pitting Edema
- Leg Edema: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg Edema | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 15 people | |||
Key findings
- Exercise-Induced OxidationImproves (the measure goes down)
- Osteoarthritis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Muscle DamageImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop MSM
Third-party tested MSM products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade C
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Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Effect of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on exercise - Induced muscle damage and total antioxidant capacity
- Effect of chronic supplementation with methylsulfonylmethane on oxidative stress following acute exercise in untrained healthy men
- Influence of methylsulfonylmethane on markers of exercise recovery and performance in healthy men: a pilot study
- Effect of topical application of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), EDTA on pitting edema and oxidative stress in a double blind, placebo-controlled study
- Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study
- A multicentered, open-label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis