What Is MSM?
MethylSulfonylMethane is a type of "organic sulfur," which is used to synthesize other chemicals in the body. MSM is found organically in both plants and animals, but it is also manufactured chemically through crystallization or distillation. MSM is proposed most commonly for joint care and health, assisting in the mitigation of damage and wear. MSM is commonly found in foods and beverages such as coffee, beer, apples, tomatoes, and various other foods and beverages. MSM is commonly taken for joint health, similar to glucosamine, and is known to help reduce inflammation in joints.
How Does MSM Work?
MSM belongs to the methyl-S-methane compounds found in Earth's sulfur cycle. The natural synthesis of MSM starts with the uptake of sulfate that produces DMSP (dimethylsulfoniopropionate) through algae and aquatic microorganisms like phytoplankton. DMSP is an organosulfur, a type of sulfur that appears organically in marine organisms. Due to the nature of DMSP being found in marine organisms, it undergoes a process known as aerosolization, where 1%-2% of DMS from the ocean is then aerosolized. The hydrologic process allows for the aerosolized DMS to contribute to cloud formation where DMSO and MSM can return to the soil of the Earth through the process of precipitation. Once the compounds have returned to the Earth, they are then purposed by plants or bacteria found in the soil. The synthetic method of production for MSM employs the use of hydrogen peroxide to then oxidize the DMSO compound into MSM, where it is then purified through either crystallization or distillation.