omaas schreef:MSM is er een goed supplement voor!
Hier wat info:
MSM
Sulfur, the eighth most abundant element in the body, plays an indispensable role in human nutrition. It's necessary for the structure of every cell in the body, as well as many important bodily processes. Hormones, enzymes, antibodies and antioxidants all depend on an adequate supply of sulfur. And because the body utilizes and expends MSM on a daily basis — and only negligible amounts are available from food — sulfur must be replenished continually. Therefore, supplemental MSM can help build the body's stores of sulfur for optimal nutrition and health.
WHAT IS IT?
MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane, a sulfur compound that occurs naturally in the human body as well as in some common foods. When purified, it occurs as a water-soluble, white crystalline powder that's odorless and essentially tasteless. Related to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), widely used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, MSM has many of DMSO's properties, but without the distinctive odor or side effects, like irritation of the skin. In the body, it is necessary for structure and function of cells and a number of metabolic processes. Since the body is constantly using MSM, it should be replenished on a regular basis.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
In nature, microscopic plants called plankton release sulfur compounds, which are transformed into dimethylsulfide (DMS) in ocean water. DMS rises from the ocean as a gas into the upper atmosphere where it reacts with ozone and LTV light to form DMSO and DMS02, otherwise known as MSM. These two compounds dissolve in atmospheric moisture and return to the earth in the form of rain or snow. DMSO and MSM then enter the roots of plants through the soil. In the plant, sulfur and other minerals are bound to carbon and further converted into an absorbable form for humans.
MSM occurs naturally in meat, fish, eggs and milk, and in smaller amounts in some beans, grains, fruits and vegetables, especially onions, garlic, asparagus and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. MSM is also found in small amounts in certain herbs and beverages, like coffee, tea and spearmint. Even so, the quantities of MSM in foods aren't considered sufficient for maintenance, or therapeutic uses. Also, because MSM occurs naturally in such small amounts, it's not possible to "harvest" it for commercial use. Instead, it's produced by oxidizing DMSO.
HOW WAS IT DEVELOPED?
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) has been used for nearly 40 years in veterinary applications, especially for horses, to relieve pain and inflammation. Because DMSO is both fat- and water-soluble, it can cross membranes when topically applied, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and work on a systemic level.
DMSO, a byproduct of the paper milling process (a natural solvent released from wood), was first produced commercially by a large paper manufacturing company in the mid '70s. Apparently, it was "discovered" when workers noticed that cuts on their hands healed faster and they had less soreness and inflammation in their hands after immersing them in water that contained DMSO.
Soon after, Dr. Robert Herschler began studying DMSO and promoted it to veterinarians for animal use, primarily for horses. As interest in DMSO grew, Dr. Stanley Jacob of the Oregon Healthy Sciences University initiated clinical investigations into the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of DMSO. When he and other researchers noted certain side effects, like odor and irritation, they began to look at DMSO metabolites, including MSM, a stable form of DMSO with the same analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In 1981, human trials of MSM began.
DOES THE BODY NEED IT?
The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of sulfur have been recognized for hundreds of years, but researchers still don't know exactly how sulfur works in the body. It is thought that sulfur is a sorely neglected mineral nutrient that plays an indispensable role in human nutrition. MSM and its related compounds provide the source of 85 percent of the sulfur found in all living organisms. It is known, however, that sulfur is found in every cell and plays a critical role in dozens of body processes.
Sulfur is found mostly in nails, hair, skin, bones and muscles. When taken orally, MSM is converted in the body into sulfur. Other sulfur-containing compounds in the body include insulin, which regulates carbohydrate metabolism; keratin, a protein that's the primary component of skin, hair, nails and teeth; collagen, the protein that forms bones, tendons and connective tissues; glucosamine, the building block for tendons and ligaments, heart valves, membranes, eyes, nails, skin and bone; and glutathione, one of the primary antioxidants in the body.
With age, the concentration of sulfur and MSM in the body begins to decrease, and deficiencies may occur. Sulfur deficiencies are often marked by brittle nails and hair, slow healing wounds, arthritis, skin disorders, depression, memory loss, gastrointestinal problems and certain immune disorders. Since organic sulfur is a naturally occurring, basic component in the body, it is thought that supplementing with MSM can benefit nearly everyone. (You should consult with a health care practitioner if you are pregnant or nursing; and consult with your child's pediatrician if you are considering giving MSM to a child under two years old .)
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
MSM is thought to have a number of beneficial effects in the body, especially in the treatment of asthma, allergies and arthritis.
• Allergies. Sulfur and MSM detoxify the cells by increasing the permeability and elasticity of cell walls, allowing them to flush out toxins and foreign bodies, including allergens. MSM also boosts the body's defenses against allergens and supports the integrity of healthy mucous membrane tissue.
• Arthritis. Sulfur is critical for connective tissue health, and MSM can help treat arthritis by reducing inflammation, maintaining flexibility and elasticity of connective tissue, improving circulation, reducing pain associated with arthritis and preventing cartilage degeneration.
• Asthma. MSM regulates the fluid that covers the airway surface of the lungs, and by preventing an inflammatory response. It also has a normalizing effect on the membrane surface of the lung, and helps to regulate the exchange of gases. One study showed that MSM substantially increased lung capacity in a group of patients with emphysema and lung tumors.
• Hair, skin and nail health. Sulfur is crucial in the production of collagen and keratin, the primary proteins that make up hair, skin and nails. MSM promotes the flexibility of tissue and encourages the repair of damaged skin.
• Bone, joint and ligament health. Sulfur is necessary for the formation of all healthy body tissues including bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Glucosamine — the building block for tendons and ligaments, heart valves, membranes, eyes, nails kin and bone — contains sulfur.
• Carbohydrate metabolism. Sulfur is necessary in the production of insulin and other compounds that ensure healthy carbohydrate metabolism.
• Gastrointestinal health. MSM enhances digestion and the absorption of nutrients, and boosts the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
WHAT DO THE STUDIES SHOW?
A number of clinical trials on show its usefulness in a broad variety of applications. Additionally, two recent studies showed a specific MSM formulation was effective in the treatment of athletic injuries and arthritis. Highlights follow:
• Athletic injuries. A double-blind study of 24 patients, both male and female, showed that those taking a particular brand of MSM (Lignisul) had a higher level of recovery (58.3 percent) compared to those on placebo (33.3 percent). In addition, patients on MSM 40 percent fewer office visits before recovery.
• Arthritis. A double-blind study of 16 patients found that more than 80 percent of those who took 2250 mg. of Lignisul MSM daily for six weeks reported an 82 percent average improvement in pain relief, compared to an 18 percent improvement reported by patients receiving the placebo.
• Breast and colon cancer. It is possible that oral MSM can help protect against the onset of breast cancer. In an animal study, test animals given MSM showed a delayed onset of tumors, equivalent to ten years in humans. Dietary MSM also delayed the onset of tumors in the colon.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus. In an animal study, MSM was shown to a protective effect before and after the onset of the disease. Test animals who were given MSM in their water supply had lower death rates and liver damage than the control groups, and had a longer life expectancy.
• Snoring. One study showed that MSM in a 16 percent water solution provided a significant reduction in snoring 80 percent of human test subjects.
• Parasitic infections. Some studies suggest that MSM can help lessen or treat parasitic, microbial and fungal infections at levels of 750 to 1500 mg. per day. MSM probably works by competing for sites on the mucous membrane and blocking parasites.
HOW SAFE IS IT?
MSM is non-toxic and non-allergenic, and studies have shown it to be extremely safe. Toxicity is extremely rare: no toxic effects were shown in humans taking up to one per kilogram of body weight per day for 30 days. However, few long-term studies have been done. Since MSM is a naturally-occurring sulfur, it doesn't have the allergic potential common to inorganic sulfides, sulfites and sulfates.
A possible side effect is that at very high levels — 10 grams or more — people may experience mild and transient gastrointestinal symptoms, like gas and loose stools, but these pass if the dosage is increased gradually to let the body adjust.
WHAT FORM DOES IT COME IN?
MSM generally comes in powder or capsule form. The powder form is mixed with juice frequently to mask its slightly bitter taste. MSM is also used topically in a number of products, to reduce inflammation and swelling, scar tissue and blemishes, prevent blistering and ease the pain of burns. It may also be used in toothpaste to whiten teeth and alkalize the mouth, in eyedrops to treat glaucoma and eye irritation, in shampoo and conditioner to enrich hair and promote scalp health. Topical application allows a higher concentration of MSM where it's needed most. Because it boosts the absorption and availability, MSM may also be combined with such ingredients as chondroitin, gelatin, glucosamine, calcium, vitamin C and B-vitamin complex.