A lifetime of walking, exercising and moving can take a toll on one’s cartilage. The cartilage is the smooth, rubbery connective tissue covering the ends of bones. Degeneration of cartilage can cause chronic inflammation in the joints which could lead to arthritis. But there is an anti-inflammatory supplement that could help ease joint and cartilage pain.
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Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, is a naturally occurring compound in foods such as fresh vegetables, meat and dairy products. MSM provides a source of natural sulphur, which plays a role in many of the body’s processes. People many consume MSM via supplements and the primary use of these include arthritis, joint pain, muscle recovery after exercise and allergy relief.
Many of MSM’s health benefits include it’s anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation is a factor in many health conditions, including arthritis, allergies and skin conditions.
If a person is able to reduce their inflammation, in turn they could possibly reduce their joint pain.
Some small scientific studies indicate that MSM could be useful for treating several different medical conditions.
What the studies say
A study with the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, MSM and how it could improve joint function was looked at.
The study said: “Joint degeneration has become a commonplace problem in ageing populations.
Mega MSM is a nutritional supplement that may provide potential relief for joint problems associated with joint degeneration.”
The study involved 100 adults who were 50 years of age and took an MSM supplement or a placebo.
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The MSM supplement also had vitamin C, collagen, neem and corydalis extracts.
The study showed that people who took the MSM supplements for 12 weeks experienced improvement in joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
The study said: “Mega MSM shows positive effects in improving joint function, relieving symptoms associated with joint degenerating and improving the quality of life in ageing populations.”
While MSM is a popular arthritis treatment, it may not work for everyone.
The Arthritis Foundation state that there are currently no large, well-controlled studies on MSM.
A meta-analysis in the BMJ Journals looked at dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis and concluded that MSM may improve osteoarthritis symptoms in the short term but the importance of the supplement was still unclear.
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