Is it effective to take glucosamine if you have bad joints? Is the MSM in glucosamine toxic and banned?

"MSM in Glucosamine is banned and cannot be eaten"

There are rumors online that glucosamine contains a banned ingredient called MSM, which should not be eaten because it puts a heavy burden on the liver, damages the gastric mucosa, and causes nausea and vomiting.

Rumor Analysis

That is not the case.

Some aminoglucose products contain MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and other ingredients. Studies have shown that MSM has a good anti-inflammatory effect. At present, it is not a banned ingredient in my country or internationally. In fact, MSM is a natural substance that exists in nature and in the human body. There is currently no research to prove that normal intake of MSM is harmful to the human body.

Many people say that their parents’ legs and feet become less flexible as they age, and they often lament that “when people get old, their legs become less and less useful, and they start to hurt after just two steps”, especially the knee joints. They always feel that they can’t exert strength, and their knee joints hurt after walking for a while. The pain is even worse when going up and down stairs, and they can’t lift heavy objects. This makes many children very worried and want to help relieve it. In recent years, many people have bought some health foods that promote joint health for their parents and the elderly at home. In the past two years, the most purchased one is “glucosamine”. Recently, some people on the Internet said that there is a banned ingredient called MSM in glucosamine, and it cannot be eaten. There are even people who say that it will put a heavy burden on the liver, damage the gastric mucosa, and cause nausea and vomiting. The rumor of “MSM is banned” circulating on the Internet What are glucosamine and MSM? Is it useful or harmful? Today, I will explain it to you all at once.

What are Glucosamine and MSM?

Glucosamine, the full name of which is glucosamine, is the most common monosaccharide in the human body and is found in high levels in human joint cartilage. Some glucosamine products contain other ingredients such as MSM. MSM, also known as methylsulfonylmethane, is also called dimethyl sulfone, sulfonylmethane, etc. Some studies have found that MSM has a good anti-inflammatory effect. Inflammation is the cause of many health problems, including arthritis, allergies, etc. Therefore, some businesses use it in some health foods that promote joint health.

MSM chemical formula丨wiki

Is MSM safe?

In general, MSM is not something new, and its safety is guaranteed. MSM is a naturally occurring substance that is widely present in the air, water, and soil around us. It is part of the earth's entire sulfur cycle and will enter animals and plants through the earth's ecological cycle system. For example, many vegetables, fruits, and grains contain MSM. MSM is also found in various organs of the human body, and this thing is not unfamiliar to our human body. In 2007, the US FDA evaluated the edible safety of MSM and eventually listed it as a GRAS substance, which means "generally recognized as safe" and can be used in various foods according to production needs. The GRAS-related documents also pointed out that it is no problem for the human body to consume 4845.6 mg per day. Therefore, the safety of MSM is guaranteed. There is insufficient evidence to say that it will put a heavy burden on the liver, damage the gastric mucosa, cause nausea and vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. There is no need to worry about these problems when eating normally.

Is it true that MSM is banned?

It is also said on the Internet that MSM is a banned ingredient and cannot be used in glucosamine. In fact, this statement is unfounded. Many countries and regions allow MSM to be used in health foods or dietary supplements, such as the United States, the European Union, Canada, South Korea, etc. MSM is not included in my country's "List of Banned Items in Health Foods" and "List of Substances that May be Illegally Added in Health Foods". Therefore, there is no basis for saying "MSM is banned".

If I have joint problems, should I take health supplements such as glucosamine?

As people age, the cartilage in their joints will slowly wear away, causing discomfort such as joint pain and swelling. At present, from 1990 to 2017, the number of patients with osteoarthritis in my country has increased from 26.1 million to 61.2 million. Due to joint pain, limb disability, and functional impairment, the quality of life of more and more middle-aged and elderly people in their later years is seriously affected, bringing a huge disease burden to individuals, families, and society. Copyrighted library images, reprinting and use may cause copyright disputes. However, should we take joint health supplements such as glucosamine?

1

Does Glucosamine Really Work?

A 2018 meta-analysis distinguished between glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine, and the results showed that glucosamine sulfate was more effective in improving arthritis pain, function, and delaying disease progression, while the effect of glucosamine was still controversial. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) also recommends crystalline glucosamine sulfate as a long-term basic treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

my country's "Expert Consensus on Clinical Drug Treatment of Osteoarthritis" points out that glucosamine is not effective for end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) with severe wear of articular cartilage; the clinical efficacy of glucosamine for osteoarthritis is still controversial. It can be used selectively for symptomatic mild patients, and glucosamine sulfate has less gastrointestinal irritation and is easier to absorb.

In general, if you have mild arthritis pain and discomfort, you can take glucosamine appropriately. If you want to take it, it is recommended to give priority to glucosamine sulfate. However, if it is end-stage osteoarthritis with severe wear of joint cartilage and severe joint pain, taking glucosamine may not be helpful, and you still need to follow the doctor's advice for treatment in time.

2

Health care products are not medicines. Don’t be superstitious about them.

Whether it is yourself or the elderly at home, if you often feel joint pain, stiffness of the joints, difficulty in movement, or even swelling and foreign body sensation, you must go to a regular hospital for examination in time to find out the cause and follow the doctor's advice for symptomatic treatment. Take medicine when you need to take medicine, and do rehabilitation treatment when you need to do rehabilitation treatment. Health products are not equal to medicines. Don't blindly believe in health foods and delay the disease. For normal people (especially young people), don't follow the trend if you don't have joint discomfort, leg and foot pain, etc.

2

Who can consider joint health foods?

(1) Young people who sit for long periods of time at work. Because they do not exercise enough, their muscles are not trained enough, and their legs lack strength, they will put more weight on their joints. In addition, long-term inactivity will reduce the secretion of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, accelerating knee wear. (2) Young people who exercise a lot for a long time. Because of the large amount of exercise, the load on bones and joints is greater, so they need to pay attention to joint care. (3) Elderly people who do have bone and joint discomfort. Common "joint health" health foods include glucosamine, thiamine chondroitin, etc. If conditions permit, you can buy and eat them.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

We often see information such as "something is harmful to the human body" or "something is banned". The correct part of this information will help us avoid risks, but wrong information can also mislead us. To identify this kind of information, you can see if there is an information source, such as a certain document or a certain study. If conditions permit, you can search for the original text of the relevant source to dispel those false information that are groundless.

References

[1] Zhang Yong. Synthesis of dimethyl sulfone and its application in health food and medicine [J]. Guangzhou Food Industry Science and Technology, 2004(02):136-139.

[2]Butawan M, et al. Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement. Nutrients. 2017 Mar 16;9(3):290. doi: 10.3390/nu9030290. PMID: 28300758; PMCID: PMC5372953.

[3]Smale BC, Lasater NJ, Hunter BT. Fate and metabolism of dimethyl sulfoxide in agricultural crops. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1975 Jan 27;243:228-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb25360.x. PMID: 1055542.

[4]Pearson TW, Dawson HJ, Lackey HB. Natural occurring levels of dimethyl sulfoxide in selected fruits, vegetables, grains, and beverages. J Agric Food Chem. 1981 Sep-Oct;29(5):1089-91. doi: 10.1021/jf00107a049. PMID: 7309994.

[5] Shi Xiaowei. Introduction to the US “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) regulations[J]. China Food Additives, 2009, (S1): 42-47.

[6]Brien S, Prescott P, Bashir N, Lewith H, Lewith G. Systematic review of the nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Nov;16(11):1277-88. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2008.03.002. Epub 2008 Apr 15. PMID: 18417375.

[7]Long H, et al. Burden of osteoarthritis in China, 1990-2017: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Rheumatol. 2020 Mar;2(3):e164-e172. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(19)30145-6. PMID: 38263654.

[8] "Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Population" Editorial Committee. Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Population (2021)[J]. Chinese Journal of Public Health, 2022, 38(2): 129-130. DOI: 10.11847/zgggws1137503 shu

[9] Chen Shiyi, Hu Ning, Jia Yanbo, et al. Expert consensus on clinical drug treatment of osteoarthritis[J]. Chinese Journal of Medical Frontiers (Electronic Edition), 2021, 13(07): 32-43.

Planning and production

Author: Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert

Planning丨Lin Lin

Editor: Zhong Yanping

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin