The dietary supplement MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) got a boost in the ratings when in 1999, 70-year-old James Coburn was interviewed after he won a best supporting actor Oscar and claimed MSM cured his rheumatoid arthritis. Coburn said he had given up on traditional medicine and that along with MSM he had deep tissue massage as well as electromagnetic therapy, either of which may also be called "the cure." The case for MSM as joint pain and arthritis relief seems to rest more on such anecdotal reports, rather than thorough research.
MSM
MSM is a sulfur compound in fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also in milk, fish, and grains. Because it can be destroyed during food processing, MSM is advertised and sold as a dietary supplement. Vitamins, minerals and food supplements like MSM don't undergo the thorough testing and guidelines of prescription medication, so exact dosages and purity of production are hard to come by.
Research
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a pilot research project in 2006 at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, Arizona, did a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 50 adults with knee pain due to osteoarthritis. The report states "significant" reduction in pain and gains in movement for those who took the actual MSM at 3 g dosage and not a placebo. It also warns the study was too small and preliminary to be a basis for factual assessment of MSM in treating arthritis.
Warnings
Brent A. Bauer, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic states there is no conclusive evidence that MSM will reduce arthritis pain. If it does so, it is only in osteoarthritis, not rheumatoid arthritis. He goes on to warn that side effects of MSM are possible stomach upset, diarrhea and headache.
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