OptiMSM® Capsules

• OptiMSM® is the highest quality MSM in the world, produced by Bergstrom Nutrition in the United States
• OptiMSM® consists of 100% pure MSM, without any further additions
• OptiMSM® is purified through 4-fold distillation, making it virtually free of contaminants
• Each vegetarian capsule contains 1000 mg of OptiMSM®
• Suitable for vegans

KALA Health MSM capsules contain 1000 mg of OptiMSM® per capsule, the highest quality MSM available today.

For the MSM capsules, OptiMSM® ‘Coarse Powder’ is used. These pure crystals do not clump together, making them the most suitable crystals for encapsulation.

These capsules are filled according to strict quality standards set under HACCP. No fillers are added, and the capsules used are 100% plant-based.

Due to their small size, the capsules are quick and easy to swallow. Another advantage is that the capsules can be opened, and the contents can be dissolved in liquid if desired.

OptiMSM®: The purest form of MSM

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a small molecule with significant importance for the body. The chemical formula of MSM is CH3SO2CH3. It is a small, light molecule with a molecular weight of 94. MSM is therefore highly absorbable by the body. MSM is the form in which sulfur naturally occurs in all living organisms, and where it is biologically active. MSM is naturally present in fruits, vegetables, and, for example, in milk from grazing cows. It is an odorless, white powder that dissolves well in warm water and in a wide range of organic solvents.

MSM has been studied since the 1960s by scientists affiliated with the Health Sciences University in Oregon, United States, under the leadership of Professor Stanley W. Jacob M.D. Dr. Jacob documented his experiences in several books: “The Miracle of MSM, the Natural Solution for Pain” (1999) and “MSM, the definite guide” (2003).

OptiMSM® is the purest MSM available, produced by Bergstrom Nutrition in the United States and uniquely purified through multiple distillations. OptiMSM® is also the only MSM with published, peer-reviewed research. OptiMSM® is the only MSM in the world produced according to the global patents of Robert J. Herschler.

The Different Types of MSM

There are two qualities of OptiMSM® powder. Firstly, there is the fine powder, known as the ‘Microprill‘ quality. This is a fine powder where the crystals easily stick together. This quality is primarily intended for tabletting, requiring very few fillers. To maintain processability, 0.1% silicon dioxide has been added (silicon dioxide is nothing more than finely ground sand!). So, you could say that this quality of OptiMSM® is 99.9% pure.

The second quality of OptiMSM® is the coarse powder, known as the ‘Flake‘ quality. These crystals are coarser and stick together less. ‘Flakes’ are primarily intended for mixing into feed and dissolving in water or fruit juice. However, due to the larger crystals, it takes a little longer to dissolve than with ‘Microprills’. OptiMSM® ‘Flakes’ not only mix more easily with food, but no silicon dioxide has been added. Therefore, you can say that the ‘Flake’ quality is 100% pure.

The Prime Supplier of Sulfur

The element sulfur belongs to the same group as the element oxygen. Sulfur and oxygen are thus closely related. In oxygen-deprived environments, organisms often use sulfur instead of oxygen as a source of energy. In 1986, an underground cave was discovered in Romania that likely had not been in contact with the outside world for five million years. In the cave, a total of 48 new invertebrate species were discovered. These animals owe their lives to warm, upwelling, sulfur-rich water that fills the cave with high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). For humans, this sulfur-rich gas would be deadly. For the bacteria, fungi, and animals in the cave, however, it forms the basis of life.

We must consider that hundreds of millions of years ago, oxygen was scarce on Earth. It was only after land plants began to develop that the oxygen content in the atmosphere rose. Then it took a very long time for the oceans to absorb the oxygen. We know that hundreds of millions of years ago, algae in the oceans began producing simple organic sulfur compounds, such as MSM. These sulfur compounds were likely the first and most important energy sources for all life forms that subsequently developed. This feeds the idea that higher life forms may be genetically programmed to use MSM as a source of sulfur.

In various studies involving laboratory animals, MSM labeled with radioactive sulfur (35S) was used. These studies revealed that after oral intake, MSM is partially broken down, and the released sulfur is utilized by the body. The radioactive sulfur (35S) was found in the collagen and keratin of hair and nails. Surprisingly, radioactive sulfur was also found in the amino acids methionine and cysteine, and in the proteins of the blood serum. This discovery proves that sulfur derived from MSM is absorbed in the so-called methionine metabolism.

The Primal Source of Methyl Groups

Methyl groups are the building blocks from which all organic molecules are constructed. The body is constantly breaking down tissues and cells and rebuilding them. Millions of times per second, methyl groups are made available to molecules in our bodies. This process, called methylation, affects all life processes. Without methyl groups, new DNA cannot be formed, and thus, new cells cannot be created.

The interesting fact now arises that the molecule MSM is composed of two methyl groups and one sulfur atom (as a sulfate group). A molecule of MSM is broken down in the body into a sulfate (sulfur) group and two methyl groups, leaving no residue. It is almost certain that MSM has been an important and perhaps the sole supplier of methyl groups for the primitive life forms that developed hundreds of millions of years ago. Are all other life forms that have developed since then genetically programmed to use MSM as a methyl donor? It seems so.

It is remarkable that MSM can be ingested in almost unlimited quantities by all examined life forms so far, without signs of poisoning. In technical terms, a so-called LD50 has never been established, which is the dosage in a test setup at which 50% of the test animals die.

The half-life of MSM in the body is approximately 48 hours, and after 480 hours, MSM is still detectable in the urine. This makes MSM the most stable source of sulfur and methyl groups for the body.

MSM: Natural or Synthetic?

Many people seem to struggle with the question of what exactly the source of MSM is. Is it natural or synthetic? Is it plant-based? Some producers claim that their MSM is ‘distilled from pine trees.’ We also frequently encounter the claim that MSM is ‘of natural origin,’ or even ‘organic.’ Recently, we even heard from a distributor who claimed that their MSM would be entirely plant-based, produced from vegetable oils such as flaxseed oil.

MSM is a natural substance found in the human body and many foods. The richest source of MSM is breast milk, in concentrations of no more than a few milligrams per liter.

In theory, MSM could be extracted from pine trees. However, we would then have to cut down most of the pine trees on earth to obtain a reasonable amount of MSM. Therefore, practically speaking, this story is impossible, as well as the claim that MSM is of ‘natural origin’ or ‘organic.’ All MSM available on the market today does not come from trees, plants, or oils. You cannot isolate, extract, or cultivate MSM; it requires a chemical reaction to produce it.

The American producer Cardinal Nutrition (now: Bergstrom Nutrition) was the first to use wastewater from the paper industry as raw material for the production of MSM. Lignin was extracted from this wastewater, which was further converted into DMS (dimethylsulfide) by binding it to sulfur. It was then converted into DMSO, and then into MSM.

This is what the production process looks like:

Natural ingredient (lignin) in wastewater → CH3 (methyl groups)

CH3 (methyl groups) → chemical process → DMS

DMS → chemical process → DMSO

DMSO → chemical process → MSM

Question: How ‘natural’ can MSM be considered when produced in this manner? It can’t even be called ‘partially natural’ because it is entirely synthetic, produced through a series of manufacturing steps, starting from a ‘natural substance’ in wastewater from the paper industry.

Anyone considering the above production process understands that it’s pure deception to claim that such MSM is ‘natural’ or ‘plant-based,’ or even ‘organic,’ even if lignin from wastewater from the paper industry is used as a raw material. Instead, we must accept that all MSM sold as a dietary supplement today is synthetically produced.

A major drawback of wastewater is that it contains many other substances that we do not want to find in our dietary supplements, including various contaminants. For this reason, years ago, Bergstrom Nutrition decided to move away from wastewater and use DMSO sourced from the pharmaceutical industry. DMS and DMSO are small and relatively simple molecules that can be easily produced synthetically and are identical to what is found in Mother Nature.

All MSM offered today is synthetically produced from DMSO and hydrogen peroxide. Because all DMSO is synthetically made, the origin of DMSO is irrelevant.

It is a misconception to believe that one MSM is ‘more natural’ than another. All MSM offered commercially is synthetically made from the same raw materials. However, there is a difference, but we need to look at the quality of production and the purity of the final product.

Bergstrom Nutrition’s focus on quality and purity sets its OptiMSM® apart from all others. From the outset, Bergstrom Nutrition has pioneered the distillation process to ensure purity and safety. Experts worldwide recognize that Bergstrom Nutrition uses a superior, multiple distillation method to purify MSM. The end product is biologically identical to MSM found in nature.

The Quality of MSM

MSM has traditionally been produced by Bergstrom Nutrition in the United States. This high-quality MSM is supplied by Bergstrom Nutrition under the brand name OptiMSM®.

OptiMSM® is the highest quality MSM available on the market today.

OptiMSM® distinguishes itself by being purified through quadruple distillation. This process removes any potential contaminants, leaving only pure MSM behind. It is supplied with certificates guaranteeing the absence of molds and bacteria, and the levels of various heavy metals are either non-detectable or almost non-measurable:

Mercury (Hg):	< 0,001 ppm (mg/kg)
Cadmium (Cd):	< 0,005 ppm (mg/kg)
Lead (Pb):	< 0,01 ppm (mg/kg)

All other producers ‘purify’ their MSM using the inexpensive Crystallization method, in which MSM is dissolved in water and then dried. This is not truly a ‘purification,’ although it is often referred to as such. Not all contaminants are removed but remain present. Moreover, the water used usually contains contaminants that end up in the MSM crystals.

 

The left photo shows a crystal of OptiMSM® after purification through quadruple distillation. No traces of contamination are visible on the crystal. On the other hand, the right photo shows a crystal of MSM obtained after ‘purification’ by the crystallization method. Not only does the crystal have a different shape, but traces of contamination are also clearly visible on the crystal. These traces may be organic contaminants or heavy metals.

Such MSM is supplied with certificates where the absence of molds, yeasts, and bacteria is often not guaranteed. Heavy metals are usually not given individually but guaranteed as a ‘group’ to < 20 ppm or < 10 ppm.

                    heavy metals                                               no heavy metals

The right photo shows OptiMSM® after distillation. No contaminants are present anymore. The left photo displays the contaminants that remain in the distillation setup. These are mainly the heavy metals. These heavy metals remain present in the MSM of other producers. Bergstrom Nutrition is the only company in the world that applies the distillation method to purify MSM.

HOW DOES DISTILLATION REMOVE CONTAMINANTS?

Bergstrom Nutrition utilizes the costly distillation method to purify MSM. In this method, MSM is heated to its boiling point (238ºC). The MSM vapor is collected, cooled, and crystallizes back into MSM crystals. This method results in the highest purity:

All substances with a lower boiling point evaporate before MSM begins to vaporize. This effectively removes volatile, organic compounds that may be present as contaminants.
All substances with a higher boiling point remain behind. These are mainly the heavy metals.

	Boiling point
Lead (Pb):	1740º C
Cadmium (Cd):	765º C
Arsenic (As):	613º C
Mercury (Hg):	356º C