A methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) ingredient marketed by Balchem as OptiMSM may support recovery after aerobic exercise, a new study at the University of North Texas found. The findings were published in Nutrients.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of 30 days of daily supplementation with OptiMSM leading up to a half-marathon. MSM supplementation appeared to modulate a number of exercise recovery markers, including those associated with innate immunity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle recovery.

Ten healthy, experienced runners, aged 32 to 44, either took 0.5 grams of OptiMSM for 27 days, followed by 1 gram per day for three days, or a placebo before running a half-marathon. The MSM dose used for this study was significantly lower than in similar trials, where participants took 3 grams per day on average. In the study, blood samples were taken 24 hours before and at 2 and 4 hours after the half-marathon.

OptiMSM supplementation was associated with post-exercise muscle recovery markers, as well as improvements in antioxidant and inflammatory responses following exercise. Increases in the expression of certain genes indicated a better coordination of immune response and muscle repair, the authors noted.

The new findings have the potential to expand label claims, with possible new claims such as “MSM supplementation at 1 g/day improves antioxidant capacity after exercise,” “supports the innate immune response following exercise,” and “supports post-exercise muscle recovery.”

“As the most researched MSM ingredient on the market, multiple studies have already demonstrated the potential of OptiMSM for post-exercise recovery, showing how it contributes to reductions in post-exercise muscle and joint soreness,” said Jessica Arnaly, senior marketing and business development manager at Balchem Human Nutrition & Health. “However, previous investigations had used a relatively high dose of 3 grams per day. With this new trial, we explored an unprecedentedly low dose of MSM. With just 1 gram per day, we observed the impact of OptiMSM on the innate immune response following exercise, while also deepening our understanding of the specific immune pathways impacted by MSM. This study also highlights the opportunity for sports nutrition brands to explore enhanced formulation flexibility with MSM by incorporating it into convenient multi-ingredient applications that appeal to today’s busy active consumers.”