MSM
MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, as powder, capsules and tablets. You will find pure MSM and blends with glucosamine or vitamin C, plus our reasoning on forms, purity on the label and how to build up your daily amount.Read more →
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What methylsulfonylmethane is and how to choose your form
MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane, an organosulfur compound: a molecule that carries sulphur. Small amounts sit in milk, fruit, vegetables and in your own body fluids. The MSM in supplements is made and purified in a lab, because plants do not give useful amounts. It is a white powder with a bitter taste that dissolves well in water. On our site it sits with the sulphur carriers in our amino acid range, next to NAC.
The forms differ in dosing, taste and price
- Powder: the lowest price per gram, and you decide the amount yourself. The taste is bitter, so most people stir it into juice or a smoothie.
- Tablets and capsules: a fixed amount per unit and no taste. Easy to carry, but a higher daily amount means swallowing several.
- Distilled MSM: purified by distillation instead of crystallisation, sold under names such as OptiMSM. The purity is stated on the label.
MSM also appears inside blends with glucosamine, chondroitin or vitamin C. Those blends are about one habit instead of three, not about a stronger effect. If you want to compare single ingredients first, look at our glucosamine options before you choose a combination.
What we are allowed to say about MSM
Very little, and we would rather be straight about that. EFSA, the European food safety authority, assessed MSM for joints, collagen, hair and nails and approved no health claim. So neither we nor any other shop may tell you what MSM does in your body. What we can do is describe the ingredient, the forms and the amounts used in practice. Studies and product labels sit between one and three grams a day. If you try it, give it two to three weeks of steady use before you judge how you get on.
How we choose MSM at BONO
We look at three things: purity, the amount per serving and whether a combination makes sense. We prefer MSM that names its purity and its distillation method on the label, because that is checkable. For powders we want MSM and nothing else: no flow agents, no sweeteners. For tablets we check the amount per tablet, so you are not swallowing six to reach a normal serving. Blends only make our shelves when each ingredient is dosed at a level used in research, not sprinkled in. Every product passes our compliance team, we test ourselves and independent labs spot-check batches. See how we select brands and products.
Who MSM suits, and who should wait
MSM is mostly chosen by adults who already use Collagen or glucosamine and want to add sulphur, and by people who prefer a plain powder over pills. It is vegan, since it is lab-made rather than taken from animals.
Start small. People who begin at three grams a day sometimes report loose stools or a mild headache in the first days, which usually settles when they build up more slowly over a week or two. Labels normally state 18 years and over. There is no reliable data for pregnancy and breastfeeding, so ask your midwife or GP before you start. If you take medication regularly, check with your pharmacist first.
Frequently asked questions
What is MSM?
MSM is short for methylsulfonylmethane, an organosulfur compound. That means a molecule built around sulphur. It occurs naturally in small amounts in foods such as milk, fruit, vegetables and grains, and in the fluids of the body. Because those food amounts are tiny and easily lost during cooking and storage, people who want more take it as a supplement. You will also see it listed as dimethyl sulfone or methyl sulfone on labels.
Where does the MSM in supplements come from, and is it vegan?
It is made in a laboratory. MSM cannot be extracted from plants in useful amounts, so producers synthesise it and then purify it, usually by crystallisation or by distillation. Nothing animal-derived is involved, which is why MSM powder and most MSM tablets are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Check the capsule shell if you use capsules: plant cellulose (HPMC) is vegan, gelatin is not. Purity figures, often 99% or higher, belong on the label.
Which form of MSM should I choose?
It depends on how much you want to take and whether the taste bothers you. The MSM itself is the same compound in all three.
| Form | How you take it | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | Stirred into water or juice | Flexible amounts, lowest price per gram |
| Capsules | Swallowed, fixed amount each | Travel, no taste, exact dosing |
| Tablets | Swallowed, often 1000 mg each | Simple daily routine |
| Blends | With glucosamine or vitamin C | One product instead of several |
Powder wins on cost and control, pills win on convenience.
How much MSM do people usually take, and when?
There is no official reference intake for MSM, because it is not a vitamin or a mineral. In practice, labels and studies sit between one and three grams a day, with three grams often split into two servings. Always follow the amount on the pack you buy. Many people take it with a meal and plenty of water, which is easier on the stomach than a large dose on an empty stomach. Taking it at the same time daily makes the habit stick.
How long before I notice anything from MSM?
Longer than most product pages suggest. MSM is not a quick fix, and we will not promise you one. Give it two to three weeks of consistent daily use before you form an opinion, and longer if hair and nails are your reason, since hair grows roughly a centimetre a month. Keep the amount and the timing the same during that period, otherwise you cannot tell what did what. If nothing changes after a couple of months, it is fair to stop.
Can I combine MSM with glucosamine, collagen or vitamin C?
Yes, and many products already do. Combining is a practical choice, not a way to make MSM stronger. Vitamin C is the one ingredient in that group with an authorised claim: it contributes to normal collagen formation. MSM has none of its own, so we describe it, we do not sell it on promises. If you already take several of these separately, a blend can cut the number of pills, as long as each ingredient is properly dosed. Our MOVE + RECOVER range groups them together.
Does MSM powder taste bad, and can it upset your stomach?
The taste is bitter and slightly sulphurous, which surprises first-time buyers. Mixing it into a strong-tasting juice or a smoothie hides it well; plain warm water makes it more noticeable. On the stomach, most people tolerate it fine, but starting straight at three grams sometimes brings loose stools, mild nausea or a headache in the first days. Begin with about a gram, spread it over the day and build up across a week or two if you want more.
Why does MSM carry no approved health claim in the UK and EU?
Because the evidence submitted was not judged strong enough. EFSA, the European food safety authority, reviewed MSM twice: once for maintenance of joints, alone and with glucosamine, and once for collagen formation, hair, nails, acid-base balance and bowel function. In both cases the panel found no established cause-and-effect relationship, so no claim was authorised. That status still applies in the UK. It does not mean MSM is unsafe or pointless. It means any shop promising results is going beyond what the regulator accepted.
Who should be careful with MSM?
Pregnant and breastfeeding women: there is no reliable safety data, so ask your midwife or GP before using it. Children and teenagers: labels normally restrict MSM to adults, so leave it unless a health professional advises otherwise. Anyone on prescription medication, especially blood thinners, should check with a pharmacist first. If you have a known sulphur or sulphite sensitivity, discuss it with your GP. And if you react badly in the first days, stop rather than push through.
