September 8, 2005 – Methylsulfonylemethane (MSM) reportedly relieves some of the most unpleasant symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a study, the results of which were released to the public last week at the annual meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Suckers.
Fifty patients aged 40 to 76 were recruited for the purposes of this randomized, double-blind study, carried out by experts from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona. All of the participants had osteoarthritis of the knees and had joint pain.
Half of the subjects received a dose of MSM, twice a day, for twelve weeks, while the other half received a placebo. Patients who were already taking an anti-inflammatory drug or receiving therapy for their arthritis had previously been put through a withdrawal period.
At the end of the study, the scientists say they saw a noticeable improvement in the condition of the participants who took the MSM, especially in terms of the intensity of the pain. However, there was no improvement in joint stiffness and total sum of symptoms.
Methyl sulfonylmethane is a sulfur compound found in very small amounts in foods such as cow’s milk, eggs, chili peppers, onions, garlic, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli and cabbage. from Brussels. It is also available as a dietary supplement.
The American Arthritis Foundation, however, remains very cautious about MSM. On her website, she recalls, for example, that MSM, unlike glucosamine, does not repair joints damaged by arthritis and that its only beneficial effect would be related to pain relief.
It is not recommended to take MSM during pregnancy or breastfeeding, during chemotherapy treatment or in case of kidney problems. In rare cases, taking MSM may be accompanied by side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and headache.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to HealthDay and WebMD.
