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Msm6.0
MSM Research
Probably helps
36 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most MSM studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2006–2026 with a typical study size of 88 participants.
Based on 36 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 28 RCTs · 11,298 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
2helped· 34 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Joint pain & arthritisReduces osteoarthritis pain and improves physical function · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational35 studies
RecoveryReduced muscle soreness after exercise · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
InflammationReduced joint pain and stiffness · 4-12 weeks
19 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
200620162026
1WOMAC pain score improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 3×n=2,455 · very large study2025
Passion fruit peel extract was the best supplement for improving WOMAC pain and function scores in patients with osteoarthritis, followed by Lanconone and collagen.
Chen CS et al. · Journal of integrative medicine (2025)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In the WOMAC pain score, the SUCRA of passion fruit peel extract was 91% (mean difference [MD]: -9.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-16.0, -2.3]), followed by methylsulfonylmethane (89%), undenatured type II collagen (87%), collagen (84%), and Lanconone (82%).
The SUCRA (99%) of passion fruit peel extract (MD: -41.0; 95% CI: [-66.0, -16.0]) ranked first in terms of the WOMAC function score, followed by Lanconone (95%), collagen (86%), ParActin (84%), and Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (83%).
The top three total rankings are passion fruit peel extract (95.0%), Lanconone (88.5%), and collagen (85.0%).
The overall analysis including all trials showed that supplements provided moderate and clinically meaningful treatment effects on pain and function in patients with hand, hip or knee osteoarthritis at short term, although the quality of evidence was very low.
Liu X et al. · British journal of sports medicine (2018)
Another six (undenatured type II collagen, avocado soybean unsaponifiables, methylsulfonylmethane, diacerein, glucosamine and chondroitin) revealed statistically significant improvements on pain, but were of unclear clinical importance.
Chondroitin demonstrated statistically significant, but not clinically important structural improvement (effect size -0.30, -0.42 to -0.17).
The overall analysis including all trials showed that supplements provided moderate and clinically meaningful treatment effects on pain and function in patients with hand, hip or knee osteoarthritis at short term, although the quality of evidence was very low.
3Pain outcomes in osteoarthritis treatmentSystematic ReviewCited 58×n=681 · large study2008
No definitive conclusion can currently be drawn for either supplement.
Brien S et al. · Osteoarthritis and cartilage (2008)
Two of the four DMSO trials, and both MSM trials reported significant improvement in pain outcomes in the treatment group compared to comparator treatments, however, methodological issues and concerns over optimal dosage and treatment period, were highlighted.
No definitive conclusion can currently be drawn for either supplement.
The findings from all the DMSO studies need to be viewed with caution because of poor methodology including; possible unblinding, and questionable treatment duration and dose.
The purpose of this review is to describe the potential application of nutraceuticals in OA, highlighting its molecular mechanisms of actions and data of efficacy and safety (when available).
Colletti A et al. · International journal of molecular sciences (2021)
It is characterized by pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion with regard to the arthritic joints.
These symptoms can cause in the long term a greater risk of overweight/obesity, diabetes mellitus, and falls and fractures.
The purpose of this review is to describe the potential application of nutraceuticals in OA, highlighting its molecular mechanisms of actions and data of efficacy and safety (when available).
7Clinical efficacy in chronic bacterial prostatitisRCTCited 14×n=2,015 · very large study2016
The combination of serenoa repens, selenium, lycopene + bromelain and methylsulfonylmethane extracts improved the clinical efficacy of levofloxacin in patients affected by CBP without the development of side effects.
Cai T et al. · Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica (2016)
Likely real
At the second follow-up visit (T2), questionnaire results demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.001).
One patient in Group A (2.5%) and 7 patients (17.9%) in Group B showed a symptomatic and microbiological recurrence (p = 0.02).
The combination of serenoa repens, selenium, lycopene + bromelain and methylsulfonylmethane extracts improved the clinical efficacy of levofloxacin in patients affected by CBP without the development of side effects.
8Knee quality of life scoresRCTCited 9×n=88 · small study2023
This study indicated that MSM oral consumption improved both knee and systemic health conditions in healthy participants who experienced mild pain in the knee joint.
Toguchi A et al. · Nutrients (2023)
Likely real
The total scores at 12 weeks in the MSM and placebo groups as the primary outcome were significantly different (p = 0.046).
The health condition of JKOM also improved after MSM consumption (p = 0.032).
The questionnaire results also suggested improvement in the knee and systemic health.
combination of glucosamine-chondroitinsulfate-methylsulfonylmethane showed clinical benefit for patients with knee OAK ellgren-Lawrence grade I-II compared with GC and placebo.
Lubis AMT et al. · Acta medica Indonesiana (2017)
Likely real
on statistical analysis it was found that at the 12th week, there are significant difference between three treatment groups on the WOMAC score (p=0.03) and on the VAS score (p=0.004).
When analyzed between weeks, GCM treatment group was found statistically significant on WOMAC score (p=0.01) and VAS score (p<0.001).
Comparing the score difference between weeks, WOMAC score analysis showed significant difference between GC, GCM, and placebo in week 4 (p=0.049) and week 12 (p=0.01).
10RCT2023
Toguchi A, Noguchi N, Kanno T, Yamada A · Nutrients (2023)