Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2SO2. It is also known by several other names including methyl sulfone and (especially in alternative medicine) methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). This colorless solid features the sulfonyl functional group and is the simplest of the sulfones. It is relatively inert chemically and is able to resist decomposition at elevated temperatures. It occurs naturally in some primitive plants, is present in small amounts in many foods and beverages, and is marketed (under the MSM name) as a dietary supplement. It is sometimes used as a cutting agent for illicitly manufactured methamphetamine. It is also commonly found in the atmosphere above marine areas, where it is used as a carbon source by the airborne bacteria Afipia. Oxidation of dimethyl sulfoxide produces the sulfone, both under laboratory conditions and metabolically.
Use as a solvent Because of its polarity and thermal stability, molten DMSO2 has been used industrially as a high-temperature solvent. For example, displacement of aryl chlorides by potassium fluoride has been conducted in the liquid. With a pKa of 31, the sulfone can be deprotonated with sodium amide. The conjugate base has been used as a nucleophile.
Medical and dietary use Methylsulfonylmethane is marketed as a dietary supplement with medical claims ranging from anti-inflammatory effects for pain management, skin condition and aging treatments, and immune system modulation. No medical uses for MSM have been approved and there is limited evidence to support most of the claims. Small studies of MSM have suggested some benefit for treatment of oxidative stress and osteoarthritis, but evidence for other uses is lacking.
Osteoarthritis Methylsulfonylmethane may or may not be useful for osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain relief. Methodological issues with the clinical trials prevent firm conclusions, and the review authors stated: "No definitive conclusion can currently be drawn" and there is "no definitive evidence that MSM is superior to placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee."
Contraindications and safety In July 2007 a manufacturer of MSM submitted a notification to the U.S. FDA claiming generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. GRAS status is for safety, and has no evaluation of efficacy. The FDA responded in February 2008 with a letter of non-objection, functionally designating OptiMSM, the branded form of MSM, as GRAS. The designation allows MSM to be added to processed foods. The LD50 of MSM is greater than 17.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. Extensive research in animal models indicates MSM has a very low toxicity when administered both orally and topically. MSM is considered 'Possibly Safe' at therapeutic doses.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology and toxicity Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have demonstrated that oral doses of MSM are absorbed into the blood and cross the blood/brain barrier. An NMR study has also found detectable levels of MSM normally present in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that it derives from dietary sources, intestinal bacterial metabolism, and the body's endogenous methanethiol metabolism.
Mechanism of action The mechanism of action underlying MSM's medical claims is not clear. Some promoters suggest that most people do not consume enough sulfur. There is no Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) or Daily Value established for sulfur, but it is present in significant amounts in foods such as cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, asafoetida, legumes, nuts, seeds, plant milk, animal milk and eggs (both whites and yolks). The claims for the need for sulfur supplementation originate with Robert Herschler, a biochemist who filed a patent for using MSM as a dietary supplement in 1982. Moreover, in cases involving topical therapeutics, the role of MSM as an active agent, per se, versus its having a role in promoting skin permeation (in manner, akin to its solvent relative DMSO) must be characterized/controlled. The biochemical effects of supplemental methylsulfonylmethane are poorly understood. Some researchers have suggested that MSM has anti-inflammatory effects. The spectrum of biological effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and MSM differ, but those of DMSO may be mediated, at least in part, by MSM.
Research
Skin, hair, nails The first scientific investigation of MSM for skin health was published in 2015. The RCT used a 3 g per day dose and included only 20 women. Results showed significant improvements in the number and severity of facial wrinkles, firmness, tone and texture. Another study evaluated doses of 1 g and 3 g and showed improvements in wrinkles, firmness, and hydration at both dose levels in 20 persons. The same author published a study on MSM for hair and nails from the same clinical trial. The results showed improvements in hair shine, volume, and appearance, and nail shine and appearance. An Italian study evaluated the effects of a nutraceutical composed of MSM, hyaluronic acid, and L-carnosine. The results from RCT showed broad improvements in facial skin hydration and elasticity, as well as decreased sebaceous secretions.
Oxidative stress and inflammatory response In one small human trial, MSM has been shown to protect muscles from damage by reducing the amount of oxidative stress damage incurred through exercise. In a second small trial the total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased after taking MSM. Studies in animals indicate a hepatoprotective effect of MSM against several toxins including acetaminophen, paraquat, and carbon tetrachloride. Animal models of experimental colitis and pulmonary hypertension indicate a protective effect as well.
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