Effect of Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane on Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

The Effect of Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane on Osteoarthritis and Joint Cartilage Associated With the Degeneration of the Chondrocyte

To delineate the effect of MSM on osteoarthritis

Objective: To delineate the effect of MSM on osteoarthritis of large joints. Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including an intervention and a placebo group. One hundred men and women, with hip and/or knee OA to be divided in 2 groups. Intervention is either MSM 3 gr twice a day for 26 weeks (6 gr/day total) for one group and placebo for the other. Outcomes measured are the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index visual analogue scale (WOMAC), patient and physician assessments and SF-36 (overall health-related quality of life).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Knee and hip OA
• men and women >45 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• any other type of arthritis
• chronic pain syndrome
• arthroscopic surgery in the past 8 months
• intra-articular corticosteroidsin the past 8 months
• hyaluronic acid injections in the past 8 months
• narcotic pain killers use
• renal or hepatic disease
• body mass index (BMI) >45 kg/m2
• cancer