What is MSM

Sulphur, the way your body recognises it

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane, CH₃SO₂CH₃) is an organic sulphur compound and one of the primary ways your body receives the sulphur it needs. Sulphur is the third most abundant mineral in the body and an essential component of amino acids, the building blocks of all your proteins. Sulphur is found in connective tissue, cartilage, collagen, and the gut lining.

MSM is a remarkably small molecule (molecular weight of just 94), which makes it exceptionally easy for the body to absorb.

MSM occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, and fresh milk, but modern food processing, heat, and prolonged storage rapidly degrade its content, leaving concentrations far below what is optimal. This is why supplementation has become a relevant consideration for many people.

What MSM does inside your body

Two mechanisms. No toxic by-products.

MSM works on two levels simultaneously: it provides sulphur for structural building, and methyl groups for biological regulation. When metabolised, MSM releases its sulfonyl group (SO₂) as a source of sulphur, which the body can use in various metabolic processes. No other molecule does both, and neither leaves behind any toxic by-product.

Sulphur: the body’s structural mineral

Most people never think about sulphur. But it is quietly essential to how your body holds itself together and defends itself:

• Sulphur is a component of glutathione, an important endogenous antioxidant
• Sulphur is present in collagen and keratin, the structural proteins found in joints, skin, and hair
• Sulphur is involved in various metabolic pathways, including detoxification pathways in the liver
• Sulphur is a component of the cell membrane, where it is present in certain phospholipids that contribute to membrane structure

Radioactive tracer studies using ³5S-labelled MSM have shown that sulphur from MSM is incorporated into the amino acids methionine and cysteine, into blood serum proteins, and into the collagen and keratin of hair and nails, confirming that the body actively uses MSM-derived sulphur as a building block (Richmond, 1986; Magnuson et al., 2007).

Methyl groups: the body’s regulatory currency

Methyl groups are required for methylation: the process by which the body activates, transforms, and breaks down molecules. Methylation is involved in DNA formation, gene regulation, and the synthesis of various neurotransmitters including serotonin, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

MSM consists of two methyl groups and one sulfonyl group. When metabolised, precisely those three components are released, nothing more.

When the amino acid methionine is used for its sulphur and methyl group, homocysteine is produced as a metabolic by-product. MSM can help replenish methyl groups and sulphur in this process without itself producing homocysteine. There is no toxic residue the body must process, which is consistent with the finding that MSM can be ingested in large quantities by all life forms studied to date without toxic effects.

Vitamins B6, B9 (folic acid), and B12 are involved in the normal metabolic conversion of homocysteine, and combining MSM with these vitamins is a consideration particularly relevant for those with higher metabolic demands, such as athletes or people following vegetarian and vegan diets.

Why OptiMSM®?

Distillation: the only true purification

All MSM manufacturers must purify their product. The method they choose determines everything.

OptiMSM® uses quadruple distillation. MSM is heated to 238°C. The vapour is captured, cooled, and crystallised. Contaminants with a lower boiling point evaporate before MSM does; heavy metals such as lead (1740°C), cadmium (765°C), arsenic (613°C), mercury (356°C) remain behind due to their far higher boiling points. This process is repeated four times.

All other MSM brands use crystallisation: MSM dissolved in water and dried. Contaminants are not removed; they remain in the crystals. The water used in the process often introduces additional impurities.

The tablet

Precision in a compact form

Our OptiMSM® tablets are developed for users who want a clean, precisely dosed, and easy-to-take format. Each tablet is narrow (21 × 8 mm), straightforward to swallow, and designed to split cleanly in two for flexible dosing from 500 mg upwards.

Each tablet contains more than 90% pure OptiMSM®. The remainder is sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a plant-based cellulose that draws moisture from the stomach into the tablet, accelerating disintegration and absorption.

How to take it

Most research uses between 1,500 mg and 3,000 mg per day, typically split across two doses and taken with food. Some research has looked at combining MSM with vitamin C, as vitamin C is involved in normal collagen formation.

Results vary by individual. Many users begin noticing a difference after 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use, with more significant changes observed around the 6 to 12 week mark. MSM is not a fast-acting compound. It works gradually, as part of the body’s ongoing processes.

Quality assurance

Every batch of OptiMSM® Tablets is produced in our own FSSC 22000 certified facility in the Netherlands, under direct supervision from intake of raw materials through to final packaging.

Paul Klein Breteler, founder of Kala Health and first importer of OptiMSM® to Europe, has been personally involved in the formulation and quality control of every OptiMSM® product since the 1980s, bringing over 40 years of expertise and thousands of customers guided along the way.

Every incoming batch of raw material is independently verified for identity, purity, and absence of contaminants before entering our facility. The complete Product Specification Sheet, laboratory analyses, and certificates are available in the product gallery on this page.

The complete OptiMSM® range from Kala Health

All variants contain exclusively OptiMSM® from Balchem, purified through quadruple distillation.

Important notice

A dietary supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet. A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important. This product is a dietary supplement (contains MSM).

Safety: Consult a professional before using supplements if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or are ill.

Storage advice: Store in a dry place at room temperature, out of reach of small children.

Due to legal restrictions, we may not disclose all details about the possible effects of this dietary supplement. Kala Health has published comprehensive information brochures about MSM that are available free of charge upon request. We will add these brochures to your order upon request.

For content-related questions or personal advice, we are available by phone at: (+31) 070 345 0290. And by email: info@kalahealth.eu.

References

Magnuson, B. A., Appleton, J., & Ames, G. B. (2007). Pharmacokinetics and distribution of [35S]methylsulfonylmethane following oral administration to rats. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55(3), 1033–1038. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0621469

Richmond, V. L. (1986). Incorporation of methylsulfonylmethane sulfur into guinea pig serum proteins. Life Sciences, 39(3), 263–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(86)90540-0

Toguchi, A., Noguchi, N., Kanno, T., & Yamada, A. (2023). Methylsulfonylmethane Improves Knee Quality of Life in Participants with Mild Knee Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 15(13), 2995. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132995