As MSM supplements become more popular there runs the risk of anything that becomes more popular – cheap knockoffs and people looking to make a quick buck. Finding premium MSM supplements is actually crucial when you’re looking for the results that MSM claims to have, and it’s a big problem when you look at the market overall. With companies offering MSM/organic sulfur (whatever you want to call it) for a fraction of the price, it’s natural to see people flock to it and expect the miracle results that so many people have recorded; but here lies the problem.
The companies selling these cheaper versions of MSM do a lot stuff they aren’t supposed to. Additives, different techniques for creating MSM, high metal levels from the extraction process – these are all prevalent in poorer versions and will yield significantly worse results than true, pure organic sulfur. Real organic sulfur has ~98.5% absorption rate into the body, close to 0% waste and 100% efficiency. This is why we see the results we do with true, pure MSM. The knock off brands will ruin this by anywhere from 30-40%, and that’s just plain bad. Because MSM isn’t globally or even nationally regulated yet, and it’s consider a food product instead of a supplement by definition, it’s a lot more challenging to have rules enforced on this. This is why there are so many companies that are able to pass off a poorer version as premium MSM supplements.
A comparison I like to draw for this comes with protein powder. There are varying types of protein powder that appeal to different people – if you’re looking to put on weight there are ones with higher calorie/fat/carb counts and inversely if you’re looking to lose weight. You can maximize muscle gains, etc. and there are different formulas and chemical makes for each of these. What differentiates good protein powders from bad protein powders, in regards to whey protein, is the difference in how the whey is extracted. Where are those cards coming from and what types of carbs are they? Paying upwards of $80 for a 5KG tub may seem expensive, but there are reasons why you aren’t buying the same size container from the discount no-name brand at Walmart. The purified, properly extracted versions are not only cleaner for the body, but also produce more accurate results. The same goes for organic versus non-organic vegetables, or even the difference between eating 100 calories of beans versus 100 calories of Snickers – the amount you feel full will be greater from the beans because there’s less crap in them.
That’s how you should be viewing MSM. These lower quality MSM supplements, which typically come from Asia and India, are effectively the same as that Walmart protein.
A consumer who cares about quality MSM should look for a product made in a dedicated FDA or EU certified cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility. Choosing an MSM made in a dedicated facility minimizes the risk of the product being contaminated by chemicals, such as benzene, toluene, or pesticides that may be left over from other products that share the same facility. Look for an MSM that has an FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) certification. If you maintain kosher or halal, the better brands are generally inspected and certified by the appropriate religious authorities. Responsible manufacturers will also seek third-party testing for their finished products. These safeguards will ensure that each batch made is put through extensive analytics to ensure the absence of lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, mercury, and microbes. This will be topped off with four tests that will establish purity, melting point (important to verify quality), water content (low water content is essential for stability), and freedom from residual DMSO.
Knowing the differences in where your MSM comes from will greatly impact the effects that it has. If you want to have the results you’ve read about, make sure you’re willing to spend another couple of bucks. It’s really not that much more of an investment and results are infinitely better.
The companies selling these cheaper versions of MSM do a lot stuff they aren’t supposed to. Additives, different techniques for creating MSM, high metal levels from the extraction process – these are all prevalent in poorer versions and will yield significantly worse results than true, pure organic sulfur. Real organic sulfur has ~98.5% absorption rate into the body, close to 0% waste and 100% efficiency. This is why we see the results we do with true, pure MSM. The knock off brands will ruin this by anywhere from 30-40%, and that’s just plain bad. Because MSM isn’t globally or even nationally regulated yet, and it’s consider a food product instead of a supplement by definition, it’s a lot more challenging to have rules enforced on this. This is why there are so many companies that are able to pass off a poorer version as premium MSM supplements.
A comparison I like to draw for this comes with protein powder. There are varying types of protein powder that appeal to different people – if you’re looking to put on weight there are ones with higher calorie/fat/carb counts and inversely if you’re looking to lose weight. You can maximize muscle gains, etc. and there are different formulas and chemical makes for each of these. What differentiates good protein powders from bad protein powders, in regards to whey protein, is the difference in how the whey is extracted. Where are those cards coming from and what types of carbs are they? Paying upwards of $80 for a 5KG tub may seem expensive, but there are reasons why you aren’t buying the same size container from the discount no-name brand at Walmart. The purified, properly extracted versions are not only cleaner for the body, but also produce more accurate results. The same goes for organic versus non-organic vegetables, or even the difference between eating 100 calories of beans versus 100 calories of Snickers – the amount you feel full will be greater from the beans because there’s less crap in them.
That’s how you should be viewing MSM. These lower quality MSM supplements, which typically come from Asia and India, are effectively the same as that Walmart protein.
A consumer who cares about quality MSM should look for a product made in a dedicated FDA or EU certified cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility. Choosing an MSM made in a dedicated facility minimizes the risk of the product being contaminated by chemicals, such as benzene, toluene, or pesticides that may be left over from other products that share the same facility. Look for an MSM that has an FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) certification. If you maintain kosher or halal, the better brands are generally inspected and certified by the appropriate religious authorities. Responsible manufacturers will also seek third-party testing for their finished products. These safeguards will ensure that each batch made is put through extensive analytics to ensure the absence of lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, mercury, and microbes. This will be topped off with four tests that will establish purity, melting point (important to verify quality), water content (low water content is essential for stability), and freedom from residual DMSO.
Knowing the differences in where your MSM comes from will greatly impact the effects that it has. If you want to have the results you’ve read about, make sure you’re willing to spend another couple of bucks. It’s really not that much more of an investment and results are infinitely better.