OptiMSM Supplementation Found to Increase Liver Glutathione Levels.

A study presented to the April 2008 Experimental Biology Annual Meeting and published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2008;22:445.8) indicates that supplementing with MSM can increase liver glutathione levels. Researchers from Ohio State University gave OptiMSM, an ultra pure form of MSM, to mice in their drinking water (80 mg/1,000 ml) for five weeks. They found that MSM supplementation produced a statistically significant increase in liver glutathione, the endogenous sulfur-bearing antioxidant peptide, as compared to control (mean increase 78%). A similar effect was not seen in lung or skeletal muscle tissues. Additionally, researchers found that MSM partially inhibited liver injury after injection of carbon tetrachloride, which induces liver oxidant stress. Evaluation of liver injury was based on measurement of blood indices of hepatic injury.This was the first study finding a potential liver-protective effect of MSM. Researchers found that MSM added to the drinking water of the mice resulted in more than doubling of the amount of total glutathione in the liver. The MSM group mice also had a significant reduction of markers of liver damage compared to non-MSM animals. Researchers stated that this result suggests that MSM may enhance the glutathione antioxidant function in humans and assist in detoxification of common liver insulting agents such as acetaminophen and alcohol. This study was supported in part by an unrestricted research gift from Bergstrom Nutrition, the manufacturer of OptiMSM.