Bergstrom Looks at MSM’s Muscle Repair Potential

Bergstrom Nutrition (Vancouver, WA) is investigating whether its patented methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) ingredient, OptiMSM, can support exercise recovery.  The notion is a reasonable one, since researchers believe MSM’s primary functions can be attributed to anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms.

In a proof-of-concept study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers assigned eight men to 1.5 g or 3 g of OptiMSM daily for 30 days. Before and after 28 days of supplementation, subjects were assigned to perform 18 sets of knee extensions to induce muscle damage in the body.

OptiMSM was associated with a dose-dependent trend towards reduced muscle soreness and significantly increased antioxidant capacity as measured by a Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay. The researchers believe this to be the first study demonstrating antioxicant capacity with MSM.

“Beyond our studies, two additional studies showed strong evidence of efficacy for MSM’s use in exercise recovery and performance,” said Rod Benjamin, Bergstrom director of technical development. “They showed MSM supplementation may have some alleviating effects on lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation while altering the glutathione redox state in favor of increased antioxidant capacity. Results also suggest MSM may decrease muscle damage via promotion of antioxidant capacity, resulting in lower creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the MSM treatment group following an acute bout of exercise.”