Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a popular supplement used for a wide range of health conditions. It is said to be the answer to many prayers when it comes to seeking relief from painful joint conditions.
Not only is MSM most commonly used for joint health, particularly for those with arthritic conditions, but it’s also effective for muscle soreness, allergies, and reducing inflammation.
As there are several health benefits to supplementing with MSM, how long it takes to work can vary depending on your reasons for taking it.
However, when referring to human studies, it appears MSM takes effect from 2 weeks, but likely longer if you’re seeking improvements for specific joint conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at MSM, what it has to offer, and how long it takes until you start feeling the benefits!
MSM: A Brief Overview
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic, sulfur-containing compound. It is found naturally in plants, animals, and humans, but is now commonly used as an alternative to medicine when it comes to seeking relief from joint pain.
In the body, MSM is a key structural substance involved in the formation of essential proteins such as collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, which make up all cartilage and connective tissues.
MSM is mostly used for supporting joint health and helping to reduce pain and inflammation, which is why you may often see it as a key ingredient in many joint supplements working alongside the likes of glucosamine and chondroitin.
MSM is thought to:
- Support healthy joints and range of motion
- Help reduce muscle and joint pain
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Counter the effects of cartilage breakdown
- Counter the effects of free radical damage
- Provide joint-protective antioxidant activity1
Top Health Benefits of MSM
Anti-inflammatory
MSM is best known as an anti-inflammatory.
It works to lower inflammation and help inhibit the release of cytokines and prostaglandins, which are inflammatory substances.
By helping control inflammation, MSM is thought to be an effective remedy for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, joint pain, exercise-induced inflammation, and seasonal allergies.1
In addition to this, MSM boosts levels of glutathione - a powerful antioxidant - which further helps protect us from oxidative stress.
Preserve Cartilage
Wear and tear of our joints is caused by the slow breakdown of our cartilage, which is known to be one of the causes of osteoarthritis.
MSM has been shown to reduce pain and stiffness associated with this condition, which is why it’s commonly used as an alternative to medication for joint pain relief.1
MSM also increases the effectiveness of other common joint supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
Reduce Muscle Soreness
A bonus for gym-goers and athletes alike, MSM has been shown to reduce muscle soreness using its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
You may have experienced muscle soreness after a tough workout before; this is caused by oxidative stress and muscle damage (which is normal when exercising!).
MSM can help speed up muscle recovery by reducing the symptoms of inflammation and exercise-induced oxidative stress.1
Decrease Oxidative Stress
In addition to reducing exercise-induced oxidative stress, MSM can also help mitigate general oxidative stress in the body because of its powerful antioxidant properties.1
MSM: How Long Does It Take to Work?
As MSM can help with many inflammatory conditions, it can vary when you may see the benefits, as it largely depends on your reasons for taking it.
For example, it may not take as long to work for muscle soreness but may take longer for more joint-related pain and arthritic conditions.
In addition to this, everyone is unique, so supplements and medication can take longer to work in some people than others. Factors such as age, sex, and genetics can impact how long it takes for supplements to take effect.
Though, let’s look at what the research says about MSM!
Oxidative Stress & Muscle Damage
Research has noted that supplementing with MSM for 10 days in healthy, untrained men reduced all measured biomarkers of oxidation caused by exercise.
This suggests that MSM may take up to 10-14 days to take effect for exercise-induced oxidative stress, general oxidative stress, and easing symptoms of muscle damage.2
Muscle Soreness
For muscle soreness specifically, one study noted that after 30 days of daily MSM supplementation, a reduction in muscle soreness was reported 2 days later.2
This suggests the potential for MSM to be an effective preventative measure for muscle soreness.
Osteoarthritis
In relation to symptoms of osteoarthritis, supplementing with MSM daily for 12 weeks was associated with overall improvements in symptoms, with reports of reduced pain and stiffness.2
So, how long MSM takes to work appears to vary among the condition you seek to address. However, we hope this has helped give you an idea!
Take-Home Message
MSM has been shown to be an effective supplement for reducing joint pain, alleviating symptoms of muscle soreness, and decreasing inflammation.
For the greatest results, it’s recommended to take MSM as part of a stack of other popular joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
Taking MSM as part of Performance Lab Flex may elicit quicker results, as it is combined with many other effective joint supplements which work synergistically to provide you with the best joint support.
Performance Lab Flex uses 100mg OptiMSM®, which is the purest and best quality MSM available, and works to increase the effectiveness of the other ingredients to promote better, more effective results!
References
- Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ. Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement. Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290. Published 2017 Mar 16.
- K. Patel. Methylsulfonylmethane. Examine.com. 2019
