The MSM Miracle

The official website of the

MSM - Medical Information Foundation

WHAT IS MSM?

MSM is an abbreviation of methylsulfonylmethane, an organic form of
sulfur. The chemical formula of MSM(r) is CH3SO2CH3. It is the form
in which sulfur appears in nature in all living organisms, and in
which it is biologically active. MSM is an odorless, white,
crystalline powder that is highly soluble in hot water and in a wide
range of organic solvents (1). Biologically active sulfur has
unbelievable preventive and therapeutic properties. The medicinal
activities of biological sulfur are so all-encompassing, and are
based on such obvious principles, that its discovery is generally
considered one of the biggest advances in orthomolecular medicine in
the second half of this century.

THE DISCOVERY OF MSM

About forty years ago, Dr. Stanley Jacob and Dr. Robert Herschler,
chemists with the pulp and paper plant Crown Zellerbach Corporation,
were asked to find a use for lignin, one of the primary waste
products of the plant. Oxidation of lignin in a reactor was shown to
result in the formation of DMSO (Dimethylsulfoxide), a natural,
organic form of sulfur. This water soluble compound has a strong and
bitter taste, and is absorbed rapidly through the skin. Workers
coming in contact with the DMSO-containing wastewater, noticed their
perspiration began smelling like DMSO, and they tasted its bitterness
in their mouths. Moreover, the water appeared to have special
medicinal qualities. Many stories about miraculous recoveries and
benefits still go around, but they can not be authenticated. Certain
is, however, that cuts, scrapes, burns and sprains recovered more
quickly when dipped in this water. Several workers also noticed that
conditions caused by arthritis and asthma improved when they came in
contact with the DMSO-containing water (George Bergstrom, personal
information).

Following its original discovery, several thousand articles and
publications have appeared in the United States discussing the
medicinal properties of DMSO. Because of its bitter taste and
penetrating odor, DMSO never became very popular with the general
public. Another problem with DMSO was that it sometimes caused skin
irritation when applied topically. For these reasons researchers
began looking for a more user-friendly derivative of DMSO. Oxidation
of DMSO was found to produce MSM, a much more stable, organic sulfur
compound with medicinal properties at least equal to DMSO, but
without the odor and skin irritation complications (4, 8, 9).

NATURAL SOURCES OF MSM

MSM is the natural form in which sulfur is found in the earth's
sulfur cycle (3). Algae and several forms of plankton in oceans are
capable of absorbing massive amounts of inorganic sulfur from
seawater, and to convert this into a simple, organically-bound form.
When these algae and planktonic organisms die, enzymatic processes
result in the breakdown of the organic molecules into DMS, or
Dimethylsulfide. This compound is volatile and poorly soluble in
water. It collects in the stratosphere, where it is oxidized under
the influence of ultraviolet light into DMSO (Dimethylsulfoxide), and
further converted into MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). DMSO and MSM are
highly soluble in water, and therefore concentrate easily in
atmospheric water vapor, returning to earth in the form of rain.
Plant roots rapidly collect and concentrate these sulfur sources.
Laboratory research has shown, that a one ppm mixture of radioactive
labeled DMSO and MSM, can concentrate hundred fold in plant roots
within hours (4).

Rainwater in particular therefore contains a lot of MSM. It is also
abundantly found in fresh fruit and vegetables in amounts generally
ranging from 1 to 4 mg/kg (3). Raw milk from cows which graze in
pastures contains 2 to 5 mg/kg MSM. Due to the volatile nature of
MSM, it is rapidly lost due to heating during the preparation of
food. It is also lost when vegetables and fruit are left for a period
of time, heated or not. Pasteurized milk therefore contains less than
0.25 mg/kg MSM, roughly the same amount as found in milk from cows
fed dried, artificial food (3). Due to our present day's dietary
patterns, it is unavoidable that modern man suffers from a chronic
shortage of MSM.

MSM AND HUMAN HEALTH

The natural level of MSM in the circulatory system of an adult human
male is about 0.2 mg/kg. Normal adults excrete 4 to 11 mg MSM per day
in their urine. Several studies suggest, that the systemic
concentration of MSM drops in mammals with increasing age, possibly
as a result of changing diet or body metabolism. Some research
suggests, that there is a minimum concentration of MSM that must be
maintained in the body to preserve the normal function and structure
(8, 9). Low concentrations of MSM in our bodies have been linked with
unspecified complaints of fatigue, depression, high sensitivity to
physical and psychological stress, and with a large number of
degenerative diseases (5, 6). MSM is an important source of sulfur,
but also has unique properties related to its chemical structure and
biological activities. To understand the preventive and therapeutic
properties of MSM, a distinction needs to be made between "why humans
need sulfur" vs. "why humans need MSM".

WHY DOES THE HUMAN BODY NEED SULFUR?

Following calcium and phosphorus, sulfur is the third most abundant
mineral in the body. A grown person contains approximately 140 grams
of sulfur (6). Nearly half of all sulfur is contained in muscular
tissue, skin and bones (5).

Protein Structure

When plants absorb MSM from rain water, they convert it into the
sulfur containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. Taurine and
cystine, the other two known sulfur amino acids, are synthesized from
cysteine. The body manufactures about 80% of the amino acids it
needs, and these are classified as nonessential. The remaining 20%,
called essential amino acids, must be obtained from food. Methionine
and cysteine are considered two of them. There are approximately 28
known amino acids. Each type of protein is made up of a unique
collection of amino acids in a specific combination. Two molecules
cysteine can oxidize and bond together through sulfur (-S-S-) bonds
(5). These sulfur bonds are the key factors that hold proteins in
shape, and determine the form properties and biological activity of
proteins.

Connective Tissue

Nails and hair primary consist of a tough protein with a high sulfur
content, called keratin. Flexible tissues like connective tissue and
cartilage, contain proteins with flexible sulfur bonds. Collagen is
the most abundant protein in the body, and a major component of all
connective tissue. In skin, collagen works with fibers of another
protein called elastin, to give skin its elasticity. In cartilage,
the sulfur containing proteoglycans glucosamine and chondroitin form
with collagen a fibrous protein substance that give cartilage its
structure and flexibility (5, 6).

The importance of the connective tissue for the body goes beyond
simply keeping cells together. The first biophysical regulatory model
was developed by Prof. Dr. Pischinger which he termed the "Vegetative
Building Structure." This theory was further developed by Prof. Dr.
Heine who described proteoglycans and glycosamines, and by Dr. Popp,
a biophysicist, who showed the importance of electromagnetic fields
in bio-information. Their research has demonstrated that the soft,
connective tissue, the extracellular matrix which surrounds cells,
serves more purposes that structural and connective. It also is
important in the transport of nutrients, electrolytes, signal
compounds and atomic and subatomic particles. Thus, the soft
connective tissue forms an essential communication network within the
body through the transfer of fine matter bio-information (13 -16).

As many people notice later in life, the flexible tissues lose their
elastic properties. A shortage of sulfur is the likely cause of this
problem. The consequences are stiffening of muscles and joints,
rippling of the skin, and decreased elasticity of lung tissues and
arterial blood vessels. Without a doubt, the transfer of bio-
information through soft connective tissue decreases also, and the
occurrences of diseases at advanced age may well be caused by a
decrease in communication between cells and body tissues.

Cell Membrane Permeability

All cells (and all organelles within cells) are surrounded by
membranes. A membrane consists of two layers of molecules situated
opposite of one another and consisting of an essential fatty acid on
one end, and a sulfur containing amino acid on the other end. The
amino acids are interconnected in such a manner that they form a
surface into which the proteins and other membrane constituents are
inserted and secured. These proteins are necessary for the transport
through the cell membrane of many types of nutrients and waste
materials.

Sulfur bridges form flexible connections between the cells and the
surrounding connective tissues. This allows the cells to retain their
elasticity. When sulfur is in short supply, the cell wall hardens,
and the cells lose their elasticity. The transport proteins of the
membrane become locked, and the membranes become less permeable. This
results in a reduced transport of oxygen and nutrients into, and
excretion of waste products from the cells. This causes a shortage of
oxygen and nutrients, and an accumulation of toxic metabolic waste
products inside the cells. Reduced vitality and eventually
degenerative diseases are the result.

Recent insight in free radical pathology has shown that the thiol (-
SH) groups of sulfur containing amino acids can protect cell membrane
protein chains from oxidation. But that is not all. Studies by Dr.
Johanna Budwig have demonstrated that sulfur containing amino acids
in cell membranes resonate with the double connections of the fatty
acids, resulting in the release of electrons. Electron clouds are
formed, which can move along the fatty acid chains. In this manner,
electrical currents evolve which form the basis of all electrical
energy in the body. This energy can be measured in heartbeat, nerve
stimulations, muscle contractions, in short, in all chemical and
electrical reactions which make life possible.

Metabolism

Enzymes are proteins which control all-important life functions. For
example, they regulated all metabolic processes in our bodies. Sulfur
bridges are responsible for the spatial structure of enzymes. Without
sulfur bridges, enzymes would lack biological activity due to
deviations in their spatial structure. Shortages in sulfur cause
reduced production of biologically active enzymes, which result in a
reduction of many metabolic processes. Sulfur is important for the
cellular energy production in which glucose is metabolized under the
release of energy.

Most important, sulfur plays a role in the electron transport system,
as part of iron/sulfur proteins in mitochondria, the energy factories
of the cell. Furthermore, sulfur participates in the vitamin-B
Thiamine (B1) en Biotin. These vitamins are essential for converting
carbohydrates into energy, by burning glucose. Insulin is a hormone
excreted by the pancreas which mainly functions to regulate the blood
sugar level. Insulin therefore plays an important role in the
carbohydrate metabolism. Each insulin molecule consists of two amino
acid chains, connected to one another by sulfur bridges (Figure 4).
These sulfur bridges are very important for the proper functioning of
insulin. Without these bridges, the hormone loses its biological
activity.

WHY DOES THE HUMAN BODY NEED MSM?

Preferred Dietary Source of Sulfur

It is generally believed that in humans, the sulfur-containing amino
acids methionine and cysteine are the most important sources of
sulfur. However, since the discovery of the earth's sulfur cycle,
this theory is increasingly brought into question (3). Several
hundred million years ago, algae in the oceans started producing
simple organic sulfur compounds, which led to the formation of MSM.
This biologically active sulfur was probably the most important
source of sulfur for all subsequently developing life forms. This
gives food for thought that the higher forms of life most likely are
genetically preprogrammed to use MSM as source of sulfur. This theory
is further enhanced by the discovery that MSM can be ingested by all
organisms investigated so far in almost unlimited quantities without
causing any toxic effects. The same cannot be said about the sulfur
containing amino acids methionine en cysteine, which can be consumed
in small quantities, but at larger doses cause undesired toxic
symptoms (3). Experiments using MSM containing radiolabeled sulfur
(35S) have shown, that following ingestion, MSM releases its sulfur
to form collagen and keratin, basic ingredients of hair and nails, as
well as the essential amino acids methionine and cysteine, and serum
proteins (8, 11). It appears abundantly clear that the importance of
MSM as source of sulfur has been grossly underestimated. The reason
for this underestimation is most easily explained by the way food is
processed in our western society, which causes the loss of the
majority of the naturally present MSM. It is therefore for good
reason that MSM is referred to as "The Forgotten Nutrient" (6).

Protection of the Mucosa

Additional experiments with MSM containing radiolabeled sulfur
demonstrated that after ingestion, MSM is bound to the mucosa.
Apparently, MSM is binding to receptor sites at the mucous membrane
surface in the intestinal and urogenital tracts and the respiratory
system. By doing so, it presents a blocking interface between host
and environment (4). There are many health-benefitting implications
to such natural interactions. Allergens and parasites cannot bind to
the mucosa, toxins are oxidized and free radicals are eliminated.