The MSM Supplement & Hair

Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, is sold as a dietary supplement and is found in many foods, such as cow's milk, meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. MSM is thought to be helpful in the treatment of a variety of health conditions and body functions, including the improvement of hair quality.

Hair Growth

In a small, unpublished study of 21 participants that was conducted in 2004, investigator Ronald Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., found that hair length increased among research participants taking MSM in comparison to those not taking the supplement. Dr. Lawrence also found that about a third of the participants taking MSM had improvement in hair luster and color, whereas no improvement was seen among those not taking the supplement. This was a small, unpublished study, so more research is needed to determine the effects of MSM on hair.

Reversing Hair Loss

A case study published in the August 1987 issue of the "Japanese Journal of Medicine" found a reversal of hair loss with dimyethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, which is a precursor of MSM. The case study involved a 67-year-old man with a rare case of rapid loss and whitening of the hair that was related to amyloidosis, or an abnormal buildup of protein in organs and tissues. After about eight months of taking DMSO, the man's hair began to grow and change from white to its usual black. Given that MSM is a product of DMSO, MSM is the active component in reversing hair loss, but more research is needed to verify this idea.

Sulfur and Hair

Keratin is the main component of hair fiber, according to the July 1993 issue of the "Journal of Investigative Dermatology." Keratins are proteins, which are long chains of amino acids. The amino acid cysteine is an important component of the keratin in hair. Cysteine contains sulfur. The sulfur in cysteine of adjacent keratin proteins link together to form a strong bond that is very difficult to split up. This bond gives hair its strength.

Toxicity

MSM is believed to be nontoxic, according to a 2003 article in "Alternative Medicine Review." Research participants did not have side effects after taking a 2,600 mg every day for a month, as noted by the "Alternative Medicine Review" article. At a higher dose, participants showed no side effects after taking MSM at daily doses that were up to 8 g per kilogram of body weight, according to Tufts Medical Center. Although these studies explored toxicity with dosage, no research has investigated long-term use of MSM, according to the article in "Alternative Medicine Review."