Natural Sulfur is Our most Ignored Nutrient
Sulfur is one of the minerals crucial to life. It is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is a basic component of the proteins that compose our organs and muscles. It is a co-factor of essential vitamins and enzymes. The well-being of our entire body is dependent upon it. Unfortunately, it has been the most ignored nutrient in nutritional science.
One of the reasons is that, although sulfur is very common, the body needs sulfur in the organic forms, such as MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and sulfur containing amino acids. MSM and related compounds supply eighty five per cent of the sulfur found in living organisms. Diets that include fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meats could provide an adequate supply of MSM, but the foods must be eaten within 24 hours after harvesting because MSM is unstable and evaporates rapidly. Cooking, drying, storing, and processing also destroy MSM.This is why an essential mineral, even though it is abundantly present in foods naturally, is so woefully deficient in our bodies in modern society.
Benefits of MSM as a Natural Remedy for Health Conditions
Sulfur is critical to good joint health. Sulfur strengthens the tissues that make up the joint. Sulfur atoms form the bonds which link together the building blocks of joint cartilage, so it helps to maintain the structure of connective tissue. Cartilage integrity depends on having plenty of sulfur.
MSM has often been recommended as a safe and effective way to help with joint pain. Other products, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are the most commonly used type for treating the pain of osteoarthritis, have been recently documented with adverse effects, and not all people can tolerate their long-term use well.
Stanley Jacob, M.D. did pioneering research on DMSO while at the University of Oregon Health Sciences University in the early 1960's. He discovered that DMSO, a strong smelling by-product of paper pulp mills with known anti-inflammatory properties, could be heated to produce pure MSM, an odorless, tasteless, water-soluble compound. He treated over 12,000 patients with significant doses of MSM for long periods of time without side effects. His published studies led to 16 patents on the beneficial uses of MSM, including improvements in skin, hair, nails, connective tissues, treatment of burn patients, arthritis, allergies, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gastrointestinal complaints, including constipation and intestinal parasites. Research documentation in test tubes and in lower animals showed that MSM lessens inflammation, reduces pain, improves blood supply, and decreases muscle spasms.
Due to the demand for MSM in all tissues of the body, deficiency produces a wide variety of symptoms and supplementation provides a broad spectrum of benefits with this remarkable nutrient. MSM nourishes the skin, hair, and nails by enhancing elasticity and repair of damaged collagen and elastin. With MSM supplementation, the skin has better tone, fewer wrinkles, and healthier appearance. Hair and nails become stronger and more resilient. Burns and scars heal more completely and are less unsightly. Many skin conditions improve, such as acne, eczema, and even long-standing psoriasis may resolve with MSM.
Allergy sufferers may notice a 75 to 100 % reduction in symptoms of inhaled allergies such as dust or animal dander. MSM stabilizes, strengthens, and softens cell membranes, allowing free flow of fluids to remove allergens and foreign proteins from the body. Mast cells also release histamine more readily and to a greater degree when more brittle. MSM helps raise the threshold before an allergic response is triggered. Food allergies improve also due to the stabilizing and healing effect on the intestinal tract and improvements have been noted in inflammatory and irritable bowel conditions as well as interstitial cystitis. Even environmental and chemical reactions diminish due to the detoxifying effect of MSM.
Nutritional implications of MSM
MSM, and many precursor compounds which are readily converted to MSM in the body, are found in most natural, unprocessed foods. However, because of its volatility, it is readily lost when fresh food is processed and/or stored. Unless the diet consists largely of fresh raw, unprocessed foods from the garden and field, it is unlikely that sufficient MSM will be ingested to contribute significantly to the daily nutritional sulfur requirement, thus furthering the high incidence of sulfur-deficient diets which exist globally.
Sulfur plays an indispensable role in human nutrition which is often overlooked. It is responsible for the structuring of body proteins through sulfide bonds, thereby holding connective tissue together. Sulfur-containing molecules are vital for the function of several body enzymes. To perform these roles, constant intake of assimilable sulfur is needed by the body.
Although MSM has not yet been established to be a vitamin, it does have a vitamin-like moderating or normalizing
activity for various body functions. Also, excretion data show that MSM occurs in lower concentrations with increasing age. Too low a body concentration of MSM may potentially result in physical and psychological stress, tissue and organ malfunction, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to disease.
Conditions which Have Favorably Responded to Oral MSM:
ALLERGIC RESPONSES
Environmental Allergies: Subjects with chronic to severe allergies to environmental materials such as house dust, pollen, wool, animal hair, feathers, and other diverse allergens report substantial to complete relief of their allergy symptoms after successive daily doses of MSM varying from 50 to 1000 mg. per day. Allergy symptoms ranged from respiratory congestion to inflammation, itching, mucoid discharges, and general discomfort. Although MSM alone may not totally eliminate allergic responses, the majority of subjects report a significant reduction in concurrent anti-allergy medication required to keep their allergic symptoms to a minimum. Individuals with allergic asthma or hay fever typically report equivalent or better control of symptoms with one-quarter or less of the prior required level of medication.
GASTROINTESTINAL UPSET
MSM is effective in ameliorating gastrointestinal upset such as that produced by the ingestion of aspirin and other pharmaceuticals or parasitic infections. Individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, chronic constipation, nausea, hyperacidity and/or epigastric pain, or inflammation of mucous membranes experience dramatic relief through the oral administration of 500-1500 mg. of MSM daily.
PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS
Individuals presenting signs and symptoms of pain and inflammation associated with various musculoskeletal system disorders, including arthritis, reported substantial and long lasting relief while including from 100 to 5000 mg. of MSM in their daily diet. Most, trying first MSM alone, then a combination with ascorbic acid, reported greater benefit with the combination.
The use of MSM with ascorbic acid is particularly useful in correcting night leg cramps. MSM is capable of reducing the incidence of or entirely eliminating leg and back cramps, muscle spasms, and general soreness, particularly in geriatric patients who experience cramps at night or after long periods of inactivity. It is also effective for athletes who experience severe leg cramps during their sports activity. Migraine suffers have also obtained substantial relief at oral doses of 50-500 mg. MSM per day while arthritic patients report relief from pain and stiffness as well as reduced swelling and inflammation.
PARASITIC INFECTIONS
In vitro and in vivo tests suggest that MSM has ameliorating or curing activity against a variety of medically important parasitic, microbial, and fungal problems of the intestinal and urogenital tracts. MSM is active against Giardia lamblia (traveler=s diarrhea), Trichomonas vaginalis, Nematodes, Enterobius and other intestinal worms, systemic infections by Histoplasma capsulation, Coccidioides Toxo-plasm and other in vitro susceptible organisms. Effective doses have been in the range of 750-1500 mg. per day. MSM may affect such infections by competing for binding or receptor sites at the mucous membrane surface presenting a blocking interface between host and parasite. MSM appears to augment immunological competence which may also partly explain its effectiveness in treating parasitic infections.
Effects of MSM Dietary Supplements
Oral preparations of MSM have been found useful in the normalization of body functions in patients displaying physiological symptoms of stress, particularly those sources of stress which cause gastrointestinal upset, inflammation of mucous membranes, and allergic reactions. MSM ameliorates these symptoms thereby permitting more rapid recovery.
Dosage and Administration Considerations
A single dose of MSM is usually not effective in ameliorating symptoms. Thus, MSM is usually administered periodically throughout the day or on successive days, or both. Noticeable results are usually seen within 2 to 21 days. The amount of MSM in each dose is not critical. The usual individual dose is about 100-1000 mg., preferably 250-500 mg. Total daily dosages of 100-5000 mg., preferably 250-2000 mg. are usually employed.
Purified MSM can be administered orally in any convenient manner, such as ingesting crystalline MSM or dissolved in water. (1/8 rounded teaspoon of crystalline granules = 500 mg)
MSM is of exceedingly low toxicity to all forms of plant and animal life. Except for its beneficial effect on collagen and proteins whereby it reduces hardening of skin and connective tissue, MSM appears to be inert in tissues and body fluids. Because of its inertness, MSM is nonallergenic and has no interfering or undesirable pharmacological effects.
Note: MSM is a patented substance, protected by a number of U.S. Patents. The above material has been excerpted largely from these patents. These are referenced below, along with other relevant documentation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Baker, DH: Utilization of Isomers and analogs of amino acids and other sulfur-containing compounds. Progress Food Nutr Sci 1986;10:133-178.
Herschler, RJ: Methylsulfonylmethane and methods of use. United States Patent 4,296,130; October 20, 1981.
Herschler, RJ: Dietary and pharmaceutical uses of methylsulfonylmethane and compositions comprising it. United States Patent 4,514,421; April 30, 1985.
Herschler, RJ: Methylsulfonylmethane in dietary products. United States Patent 4,616,039; October 7, 1986.
Jacob, SW and Herschler RJ: Introductory remarks: Dimethylsulfoxide after twenty years. Ann NY Acad Sci 1983; 411: xiii-xvii.
Pearson TW, Dawson HJ, and Lackey HE: Natural occurring levels of dimethylsulfoxide in selected fruits, vegetables, grains, and beverages. Am Chemical Soc 1981.