MSM 작동 방식

나이가 들고 삐걱거린다면(어느 시점에서 우리 모두에게 해당될 것입니다) 거의 불가피한 부산물로 보이는 관절 통증과 이동성 감소를 방지하기 위해 무엇을 할 수 있는지 궁금할 것입니다. 노화의. 정보 광고인 친구인 누군가가 MSM이라는 약을 언급했을 것입니다.

그 두문자어는 많은 것을 의미할 수 있지만, 결국에는 메틸설포닐메탄이라는 작은 화합물로 검색할 수 있습니다. 한 의사에 따르면 메틸설포닐메탄은 통증, 통증, 메스꺼움, 관절염, 천식, 코골이 및 대머리에 도움이 될 수 있습니다. 그 의사인 Thomas Herschler는 우연히 MSM 제품에 대해 꽤 많은 특허를 보유하게 되었습니다[출처: Lang ]. 물론 그의 말이 맞을 수도 있지만, 아무도 확실히 알 수 있는 충분한 임상 실험이 없었습니다.

That hasn't stopped the nutritional-supplement industry from hopping on board the MSM train, though. Some suppliers hope MSM becomes one of your standard preventive pills -- a long-term maintenance supplement [source: Brighter Tomorrow]. Other authorities note that we don't yet know if it's safe to take MSM for longer than 12 weeks [source: Mayo Clinic]. As with any medicine, even if it's a simple supplement, it doesn't mean it's necessarily safe. Just about every medicine has the potential for side effects, as well as the possibility to interact with other medications you may be taking. Before starting any kind of supplement regimen, always consult your doctor first.

This article will tell you a bit more about MSM including what we know and what we don't, the possible benefits and risks of taking it, and its role in human hair and tissue growth.

Contents

1. MSM Benefits
2. MSM Side Effects
3. MSM and Hair Growth
4. MSM and Tissue Repair

Sulfur seems to be important in the strength and maintenance of joint tissue, especially cartilage. Since sulfur is a significant component of MSM, one possible benefit of MSM is in the treatment of joint problems such as sports injuries, osteoarthritis and tendinitis. MSM also seems to help reduce inflammation [source: MSM Guide].

관절 부상이나 골관절염의 초기 징후가 있는 많은 사람들은 추가 관절 손상을 막기 위해 황산 글루코사민 또는 콘드로이틴과 같은 보충제를 섭취합니다[출처: Shiel ]. 그 이점이 입증되지는 않았지만 MSM을 이러한 방식으로 사용할 수도 있습니다. 즉, 영향을 받는 관절의 피부에 보충제 또는 국소 젤로 사용할 수 있습니다[출처: Mayo Clinic , MSM Guide ].

MSM은 급성 통증 치료제가 아닙니다. 환자와 의사 모두 MSM이 신체의 자체 수리 및 유지 관리 시스템이 더 잘 작동하는 데 도움이 되기를 희망합니다. 그러나 방금 발목을 삐었다면 MSM이 아니라 이부프로펜에 도달해야 합니다.

There are a few indications that MSM may help with certain respiratory conditions, such as asthma, seasonal allergies and snoring. But clinical proof is slim. Many more studies are needed to establish whether MSM has true medical benefits, and if so, what they are [sources: Lang, Mayo Clinic].

At least one doctor notes that, while the body does need sulfur -- which is an essential mineral -- supplemental MSM may not be the best way to get it. Dietary sulfur comes from the digestion of protein-rich foods (meat and dairy products, legumes, eggs and nuts), so you may be getting enough from whatever source of protein you choose to eat [source: Lang].

The nutritional-supplement industry touts MSM as a muscle-builder and a hair-grower. We'll explore those claims in more detail later.

Even if the claims of MSM's effectiveness need more proof, it might be tempting to take the supplement anyway, just in case it does work. Can MSM ever hurt you? Read on.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common consequences of aging. In this condition -- which can be caused by a number of factors, including trauma and heredity -- the cartilage pads break down in the joints, eventually causing the unprotected bones to rub against each other. Arthritis can lead to mild or severe pain, as well as loss of mobility (which can have its own serious health consequences). If you're looking for preventive approaches to arthritis, supplements like MSM may be able to help you. But don't overlook a non-supplement, more direct approach: weight loss. Overweight and diabetes are some of the most common causes of osteoarthritis, and light exercise is one of the best treatments [source: Shiel].

As nutritional supplements go, MSM seems to be one of the safer ones out there. No studies have established any toxicity or toxic buildup [source: MSM Guide]. If you take too much MSM, you may experience a bit of diarrhea, nausea or headache [source: Mayo Clinic]. But that's probably it. However, there may be other side effects depending on the quality and production of your MSM supplements.

Sulfur is what makes rotten eggs smell so bad, and some sulfur-based supplements have been known to have particularly stinky side effects. MSM typically doesn't do this, but you should make sure your supplement doesn't contain other sulfur compounds [source: The Arthritis and Glucosamine Information Center].

MSM occurs naturally in several foods, such as pine nuts and milk, which has led to speculation that people with some food allergies can't take MSM supplements [source: MSM Guide]. Although there are nutritional supplements (such as glucosamine) that are off-limits to certain food allergy patients, that's not the case for MSM. All MSM in supplements is synthetically produced [source: MSM Guide].

However, that doesn't mean you're home free on the allergy front. Different manufacturers may combine MSM with different ingredients. Before taking MSM, you do need to check these ingredients for allergens or other chemicals that might be contraindicated with your current prescriptions.

Even more importantly, be aware that the quality of synthetic MSM can differ dramatically. Some inferior MSM supplements contain trace amounts of heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, and those most certainly can build up in your system, with toxic effects. If it's produced at plants that produce other synthetic chemicals, some MSM may contain other contaminants, such as benzene or -- depending on the manufacturer -- pesticides [source: Bergstrom Nutrition].

How do you steer clear of such dangers? Look for MSM that has been purified by distillation, not crystallization. The crystallization process is where toxic elements can accumulate. Distilled MSM, on the other hand, ought to be chemically identical to the naturally occurring molecules [source: MSM Guide].

What if you're hoping to use MSM to build up something non-toxic -- say, hair or muscle? Read on.

Sulfur and Allergies

You can't actually be allergic to sulfur itself, because it's an element, not a protein. But plenty of people are allergic to sulfur compounds. Can you take MSM if you've had a reaction to a sulfonamide or a sulfite? Possibly -- the chemical structures are different -- but talk to your doctor first. Anaphylactic allergic reactions can be dangerous, requiring immediate medical attention. If there's a possibility of such a reaction, you should be near medical professionals.

Because MSM helps in tissue repair, some sellers tout it to promote the growth of hair and nails. After all, hair and nails are dead skin cells -- the more cells you produce, the more dead cells you have, right? Some physicians even say that MSM helps your body build collagen, the protein that keeps skin and hair supple [sources: Josephs].

Well, collagen is definitely important. It's one of the body's most plentiful proteins. It strengthens the skin, the tendons, the internal organs -- even the teeth and bones. Collagen deficiency leads to the symptoms of scurvy, in which the body can't repair even minor injuries [source: Goodsell]. And yes, the production of collagen does seem to depend in part on dietary sulfur. In animals, at least [source: Brown].

But there haven't been any peer-reviewed studies conclusively linking MSM supplements to increased hair growth. Similarly, there is indeed sulfur in keratin, one of the main proteins of hair, but an ordinary diet is probably adequate to provide all the sulfur you need for everyday hair growth [source: Nix].

Obviously, there's a giant demand for an over-the-counter remedy for hair loss. Lots of us want to grow more hair. Plenty of conditions -- alopecia, menopause, stress and plain old hereditary baldness -- can lead to hair loss. Even some otherwise desirable prescription drugs, such as cancer treatments, cause hair loss.

Unfortunately, this means that plenty of unethical profiteers have been eager to tout anything in pill form as the scalp equivalent of garden fertilizer. The American Hair Loss Association notes that 99 percent of hair loss remedies just don't work - and for now at least, it counts MSM among them.

On the next page, we'll take a look at the ways MSM might be able to aid in repairing other tissues.

So, how DO you treat hair loss, then?

Some problems of hair loss, such as those that come from menopause and other changes in the body's hormone levels, can be treated with hormone therapy. Drugs such as minoxidil can help too. There are surgical options -- although receiving a hair transplant from someone else can carry the same risks of complication and rejection as any other transplant surgery. And there are always hairpieces and wigs, some of which can be attached semi-permanently. Cruelly, some hair replacements can themselves cause hair loss [source: AHLA].

When you're pumping iron at the gym, tiny tears develop in the skeletal muscles you're working. The body rushes to repair those tears and reinforce the torn places. Over time, this process adds to your muscle mass; it's how you bulk up.

Tissue repair is a constant process in the body. As we age, our bodies stop being quite so efficient at it. The collagen we produce gets less elastic [source: The Orthopaedic Research Institute]. The skin gets saggier. The joints get stiffer. The injuries get harder to recover from -- that's why trauma (especially repeated trauma) can lead to arthritis.

Because sulfur and collagen are such major components of tissue repair, MSM is thought to promote the rebuilding of muscles and joint tissue [source: MSM Guide]. Some authorities recommend taking it in combination with other supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, to minimize the tissue damage associated with arthritis [source: The Arthritis and Glucosamine Information Center].

Does increased sulfur actually lead to more or faster tissue repair? We don't quite know. We know that reduced dietary sulfur inhibits tissue repair [source: Brown]. But that's not the same thing as knowing that taking a sulfur supplement increases tissue repair. The body, frustratingly, doesn't work that simply.

The bottom line on MSM? If you want to take it, you probably can. (Do be aware of the possible allergy and contamination issues mentioned earlier, though; as with all supplements and drugs, check the ingredients list very carefully and talk to your doctor.) Supplemental MSM probably won't hurt you -- it just might not help you. If you see a benefit, it could be the placebo effect. Without more research, there's just no way of knowing.

To learn more, visit the links on the next page.

Repairing Tissue Without Supplements

If you've decided not to add a daily MSM supplement, what are some good ways to repair tissue? They're pretty basic. Drink a lot of water. Eat whole foods (as noted before, a diet with adequate protein probably gives you enough sulfur for what your body needs to do). And get some sleep -- rest time is when the body undertakes much of its reconstruction work. (In fact, if you undertake a weight-training regimen, your muscles actually grow on the days when you don't lift [source: WebMD].) If you haven't been sleeping enough, or well enough, you might want to consider exercise? Exercise really does build muscle, boost the immune system and help you rest -- it's the closest thing to a cure-all out there. And it just happens to be cheaper than almost anything that comes in a bottle.

Related Articles