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Systematic review of the nutritional supplements Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Methlsufonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Systematic review of the nutritional supplements Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Methlsufonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis
Systematic review of the nutritional supplements Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Methlsufonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis
Objective
Conventional treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with serious gastrointestinal side effects and in view of the recent withdrawal of some cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, identifying safer alternative treatment options is needed. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the existing evidence from randomised controlled trials of two chemically related nutritional supplements, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of OA to determine their efficacy and safety profile.

Methods
The electronic databases [Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Amed, Cinahl and NeLH (1950 to November 2007)] were searched. The search strategy combined terms: osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disorder, dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO, methylsulfonylmethane, MSM, clinical trial; double-blind, single blind, RCT, placebo, randomized, comparative study, evaluation study, control. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Data were extracted and quality was assessed using the JADAD scale.

Results
Six studies were included [evaluating a total of 681 patients with OA of the knee for DMSO (N = 297 on active treatment); 168 patients for MSM (N = 52 on active treatment)]. Two of the four DMSO trials, and both MSM trials reported significant improvement in pain outcomes in the treatment group compared to comparator treatments, however, methodological issues and concerns over optimal dosage and treatment period, were highlighted.

Conclusion
No definitive conclusion can currently be drawn for either supplement. The findings from all the DMSO studies need to be viewed with caution because of poor methodology including; possible unblinding, and questionable treatment duration and dose. The data from the more rigorous MSM trials provide positive but not definitive evidence that MSM is superior to placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate OA of the knee. Further studies are now required to identify both the optimum dosage and longer-term safety of MSM and DMSO, and definitive efficacy trials.
dimethyl sulfoxide, methylsulfonylmethane, dmso, msm, osteoarthritis, systematic review
1063-4584
1277-1288
Brien, S.
4e8e97cd-7bc3-4efd-857e-20790040b80f
Prescott, P.
cf0adfdd-989b-4f15-9e60-ef85eed817b2
Bashir, N.
deb42e12-3b2f-40be-9974-ad46568ab11c
Lewith, H.
19b58cd7-2c78-4e80-9cab-acc516bef207
Lewith, G.
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Brien, S.
4e8e97cd-7bc3-4efd-857e-20790040b80f
Prescott, P.
cf0adfdd-989b-4f15-9e60-ef85eed817b2
Bashir, N.
deb42e12-3b2f-40be-9974-ad46568ab11c
Lewith, H.
19b58cd7-2c78-4e80-9cab-acc516bef207
Lewith, G.
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625

Brien, S., Prescott, P., Bashir, N., Lewith, H. and Lewith, G. (2008) Systematic review of the nutritional supplements Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Methlsufonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16 (11), 1277-1288. (doi:10.1016/j.joca.2008.03.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective
Conventional treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with serious gastrointestinal side effects and in view of the recent withdrawal of some cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, identifying safer alternative treatment options is needed. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the existing evidence from randomised controlled trials of two chemically related nutritional supplements, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of OA to determine their efficacy and safety profile.

Methods
The electronic databases [Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Amed, Cinahl and NeLH (1950 to November 2007)] were searched. The search strategy combined terms: osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disorder, dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO, methylsulfonylmethane, MSM, clinical trial; double-blind, single blind, RCT, placebo, randomized, comparative study, evaluation study, control. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Data were extracted and quality was assessed using the JADAD scale.

Results
Six studies were included [evaluating a total of 681 patients with OA of the knee for DMSO (N = 297 on active treatment); 168 patients for MSM (N = 52 on active treatment)]. Two of the four DMSO trials, and both MSM trials reported significant improvement in pain outcomes in the treatment group compared to comparator treatments, however, methodological issues and concerns over optimal dosage and treatment period, were highlighted.

Conclusion
No definitive conclusion can currently be drawn for either supplement. The findings from all the DMSO studies need to be viewed with caution because of poor methodology including; possible unblinding, and questionable treatment duration and dose. The data from the more rigorous MSM trials provide positive but not definitive evidence that MSM is superior to placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate OA of the knee. Further studies are now required to identify both the optimum dosage and longer-term safety of MSM and DMSO, and definitive efficacy trials.

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More information

Published date: 2008
Keywords: dimethyl sulfoxide, methylsulfonylmethane, dmso, msm, osteoarthritis, systematic review

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 61686
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/61686
ISSN: 1063-4584
PURE UUID: e94cef5f-240c-4829-9ac8-115a6d30b0bc
ORCID for S. Brien: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1120-2364

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Sep 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:19

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Contributors

Author: S. Brien ORCID iD
Author: P. Prescott
Author: N. Bashir
Author: H. Lewith
Author: G. Lewith

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