“In addition, cartilage was protected from the pro-inflammatory effect of interleukin, a chemical used to stimulate inflammation, and there was a mild chondroprotective effect with respect to matrix proteoglycans (a fundamental building block of articular cartilage) depletion,” added researcher, Mark Hurtig, DVM, Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.

“These results corroborate previous human and animal studies which show that MSM provides significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, said Hurtig. “However, now we have definitive proof that MSM works at the cellular level and understand more how it works.”

To perform the study, articular cartilage was excised from 14 animals that were euthanized for reasons other than joint disease. The following day, 25 mg of cartilage was allocated to each well of 24-well plates. Serum-free media containing all the essential nutrients (Ham’s F12) supported the continued functioning of chondrocytes (the cells that form and maintain articular cartilage). The tissue was allowed to rest for 24 hours before inflammatory mediators were added to the system. Lignisul MSM, at concentrations ranging from 1ng/ml to 1 mg/ml, was then added to determine its ability to reduce the inflammatory response.

Carolwood Corporation, Greenville, PA, is a supplier of high-quality supplements, including Lignisul MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane), and Alavis™ MSM (a fine feed grade for animals). For more information, log-on to www.msm.com, or call (888) 646-0350.