What’s the TL;DR?
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is one of the most valuable supplements for NBE and should be included in every program.
MSM promotes healing and growth. It helps with HGH and IGF-1. It works great in all regimens, and synergizes very well with pumping.
Dosage and timing
Studies have used 1500 to 3000mg,6 and this is the common dosage in the NBE community as well. It’s suggested to take 1500mg in the morning and again in the evening. MSM can be taken throughout the month, without regard to the menstrual cycle.
MSM is generally well tolerated by the body, with most people reporting no adverse reactions when using distilled MSM. OptiMSM is a popular form of MSM that has undergone triple distillation, although other brand names are available. Some individuals experience an upset stomach when taking MSM, especially when it is not the distilled version.
Further details
The main mechanism of action of MSM is the provision of sulfur. Sulfur is critical to the formation of connective tissue. It strengthens connective tissue by forming cross-linkages called disulfide bonds that are the links in chains of glycosaminoglycan that build collagen.1
The effects of MSM are amplified when combined with Vitamin C. Vitamin C serves as an electron donor for some enzymes, three of which participate in collagen hydroxylation.
Available studies
Beyond collagen, MSM provides a range of other NBE benefits too. It reduces inflammation,2 increases growth hormones and intracellular IGF-1,3 protects against cancer,4 stimulates stem cells to differentiate,5 boosts recovery from exercise,6 and reduces oxidative stress.7
Products to consider
References
- MSM The Definitive Guide ↩︎
- MSM: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement ↩︎
- MSM enhances GH signaling in osteoblast-like cells ↩︎
- MSM suppresses breast cancer growth ↩︎
- MSM increases osteogenesis ↩︎
- Influence of MSM on markers of exercise recovery and performance ↩︎
- Effect of single dose MSM on oxidative stress ↩︎
