MSM supports exercise recovery

MIAMI

Supplementation with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may favorably influence selected markers of exercise recovery in moderately exercise-trained men, according to a new study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ePub 27 Sept 2012). The pilot study, conducted by Miami Research Associates, was a proof of concept design, exploring whether MSM could impact markers of exercise recovery and performance.

For the study, eight healthy men were randomly assigned to receive 1.5 g/d or 3.0 g/d of MSM (as OptiMSM®, from Bergstrom Nutrition) for 30 days28 days before and two days following exercise. Before and after the intervention, subjects performed 18 sets of knee extension exercise to induce muscle damage. Muscle soreness, fatigue, blood antioxidant status and blood homocysteine were measured before and after exercise, pre and post intervention. Muscle soreness increased following exercise and a trend was noted for a reduction in soreness in men taking 3.0 g/d MSM. MSM supplementation also slightly reduced fatigue and reduced homocysteine levels after exercise; the 3.0 g/d dosage also significantly increased Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity after exercise.

"Beyond our studies, two additional published studies showed strong evidence of efficacy for MSMs use in exercise recovery and performance," said Rod Benjamin, director of technical development, Bergstrom Nutrition. "They showed MSM supplementation may have some alleviating effects on lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation while altering the glutathione redox state in favor of increased antioxidant capacity. Results also suggest MSM may decrease muscle damage via promotion of antioxidant capacity, resulting in lower creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the MSM treatment group following an acute bout of exercise."