MSM
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Organic sulfur compound for joint health and connective tissue support.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
MSM is an other most often used for joint health, anti-inflammatory, skin/hair/nails. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 1,000-3,000 mg daily, commonly taken as optimsm (distillation-purified, most studied). This profile indexes 16 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: joint health, anti-inflammatory, skin/hair/nails. 16 sources indexed (2006–2023), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Provides bioavailable sulfur for collagen, keratin, and glutathione synthesis. Reduces inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and inhibits NF-κB activation.5,7
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes OptiMSM / MSM Powder.
Assumes 1,000-3,000 mg/day. Vendor basis: BulkSupplements powder, NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, and Amazon marketplace; OptiMSM capsules price higher. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Food comparisons are indirect and much lower dose than supplements.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
4- 1MSM supplementation for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDXu G, Zhou T, Gu Y et al. · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · 2020
- 2Efficacy of glucosamine, chondroitin, and methylsulfonylmethane for spinal degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease: a systematic reviewPMIDStuber K, Sajko S, Kristmanson K · The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2011
Stuber K, Sajko S, Kristmanson K. Efficacy of glucosamine, chondroitin, and methylsulfonylmethane for spinal degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease: a systematic review. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2011
- 3Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the kneePMIDBrien S, Prescott P, Lewith G · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2011
Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G. Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2011
- 4Systematic review of the nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritisPMIDBrien S, Prescott P, Bashir N et al. · Osteoarthritis and cartilage · 2008
Brien S, Prescott P, Bashir N et al.. Systematic review of the nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2008
Randomized controlled trials
10- 5Comparative efficacy of a combination of undenatured type II collagen, Boswellic acids, methylsulfonylmethane, vitamins C and D3 and a combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint.PMIDMazurov VI, Belyaeva IB, Trofimov EA, Itskovich IE, Burulev AL · Terapevticheskii Arkhiv · 2023
A combination supplement containing MSM, undenatured type II collagen, and boswellic acids showed comparable or superior efficacy to glucosamine/chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
- 6Does glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane supplementation improve the outcome of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis management with arthrocentesis plus intraarticular hyaluronic acid injection. A randomized clinical trial.PMIDCmert Kil S · Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · 2021
Combined glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM supplementation improved pain scores and maximum mouth opening in patients with TMJ osteoarthritis compared to controls.
- 7Beauty from within: Oral administration of a sulfur-containing supplement methylsulfonylmethane improves signs of skin ageingPMIDMuizzuddin N et al. · Int J Vitam Nutr Res · 2020
Oral MSM improved signs of skin aging in human subjects, supporting its use for skin health as a nutritional supplement.
- 8Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study of a Nutraceutical Based on Hyaluronic Acid, L-carnosine, and Methylsulfonylmethane in Facial Skin Aesthetics and Well-beingPMIDGuaitolini E, Cavezzi A, Cocchi S et al. · The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2019
Guaitolini E, Cavezzi A, Cocchi S et al.. Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study of a Nutraceutical Based on Hyaluronic Acid, L-carnosine, and Methylsulfonylmethane in Facial Skin Aesthetics and Well-being. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. 2019
- 9Evaluating the Impacts of Methylsulfonylmethane on Allergic Rhinitis After a Standard Allergen Challenge: Randomized Double-Blind Exploratory StudyPMIDHewlings S, Kalman DS · JMIR research protocols · 2018
Hewlings S, Kalman DS. Evaluating the Impacts of Methylsulfonylmethane on Allergic Rhinitis After a Standard Allergen Challenge: Randomized Double-Blind Exploratory Study. JMIR research protocols. 2018
- 10The Influence of Methylsulfonylmethane on Inflammation-Associated Cytokine Release before and following Strenuous ExercisePMIDWithee ED et al. · J Sports Med (Hindawi) · 2017
MSM decreased resting proinflammatory cytokines and increased acute post-exercise IL-10, dampening the inflammatory response to exercise.
- 11Effects of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on exercise-induced oxidative stress, muscle damage, and pain following a half-marathon: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialPMIDWithee ED et al. · J Int Soc Sports Nutr · 2017
MSM group saw clinically significant reductions in both muscle and joint pain following a half-marathon.
- 12Comparison of Glucosamine-Chondroitin Sulfate with and without Methylsulfonylmethane in Grade I-II Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled TrialPMIDLubis AMT, Siagian C, Wonggokusuma E et al. · Acta medica Indonesiana · 2017
Lubis AMT, Siagian C, Wonggokusuma E et al.. Comparison of Glucosamine-Chondroitin Sulfate with and without Methylsulfonylmethane in Grade I-II Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Acta medica Indonesiana. 2017
- 13Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled studyPMIDDebbi EM et al. · BMC Complement Altern Med · 2011
MSM for 12 weeks improved pain and physical function in knee OA patients, though improvements were small.
- 14Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trialPMIDKim LS et al. · Osteoarthritis Cartilage · 2006
MSM (3 g twice daily) improved symptoms of pain and physical function during 12-week intervention without major adverse events.
Reviews & position papers
1- 15Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary SupplementPMIDButawan M et al. · Nutrients · 2017
As a GRAS-approved substance, MSM is well-tolerated at dosages up to 4 g daily with few known and mild side effects.
Common questions.
Quick answers about MSM, drawn from the data on this page.
What is MSM?
Organic sulfur compound for joint health and connective tissue support.
What is MSM used for?
Commonly cited benefits of MSM include: Joint health; Anti-inflammatory; Skin/hair/nails; Exercise recovery. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of MSM?
A typical adult dose of MSM is 1,000-3,000 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is OptiMSM (distillation-purified, most studied). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of MSM?
Reported side effects include gi upset, headache initially, insomnia if taken late. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for MSM?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
MSM in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.