Common Questions About Arthritis

Does MSM Cause Cancer?

Question: Is MSM safe? My doctor discouraged its use, saying that many food supplements have been found to cause cancer.

Answer: I have no reason to believe that MSM will cause cancer. There is nothing I have found in the medical literature to support that notion.

Like SAMe, MSM is a natural substance that is growing in popularity. It is a normal metabolite or byproduct of the nutritional compound DMSO. Several years ago DMSO gained a great deal of attention as a remarkable natural penetrating agent that was quite helpful for some people with joint pain. DMSO, however, never became widely popular because of its objectionable fishy odor. MSM causes no odor and appears to have beneficial effects upon arthritis pain and stiffness with no apparent significant side effects. At a dosage of approximately 2 grams daily, MSM has been shown to prevent breakdown of cartilage and reduce joint inflammation. This substance can be effective when taken orally or applied topically.

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