From: sbharris@ix.netcom.com(Steven B. Harris)
Subject: Re: methylsulfonylmethane
Date: 24 Oct 1996
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative,sci.med.nutrition

In <jabbo-2210962044370001@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu> jabbo@pobox.com
(Tim) writes:

>In article <326CDA63.54D@earthlink.net>, freemind@earthlink.net wrote:
>
>> Steven B. Harris wrote:
>> >
>> > In <326C5097.2607@earthlink.net> Simon Friedman
>> > <freemind@earthlink.net> writes:
>> > >
>> > >Anyone familiar with methylsulfonylmethane, its function in the
>> > >body, and its value or lack thereof as a nutritional supplement?
>> > >
>> > >Simon
>> >
>> > You mean just plain old DMSO, yes?  So why not say so?
>> >
>> >                                      Steve Harris, M.D.
>>
>>
>> No, I didn't mean DMSO, I meant MSM. Although after my post and before
>> I read yours I found out that the 2 compounds are related. Does MSM get
>> converted into DMSO in the body?
>>
>> I sense a little hostility on your part in response to my perfectly
>> legitimate, innocent little question, Steve.
>
>Whoops!  I just realized I f*cked up in my previous post.
>
>DiMethyl Sulfoxide
>
>  CH3
>  |
>: S = O
>  |
>  CH3
>
>
>Dimethyl sulfonate
>
>     CH3
>     |
> O = S = O
>     |
>   H3C
>
>
>I was working a priori from the structure I drew, which was (ironically)
>the compound you asked about, MeSO2. SBH's response drew me off (but the
>IUPAC name is still DMSulfonate).



The common name screwed me up also.  I still think that -SO- should be
"sulfonyl" in the same way -CO- is carbonyl.  However, it isn't.

I have no idea whether CH3-SO2-CH3 is found in the body, or even if
CH3-SO-CH3 (DMSO) is.  I've always wondered if DMSO smell like rotten
clams because rotten clams actually give off DMSO.  But, then, I'm also
told that absoluely pure DMSO has an ether-like odor, and the horrid
smell usually associated with the compound is due to impurities.  Which
ones, I wonder?

                                          Steve

From: "Steve Harris" <sbharris@ix.RETICULATEDOBJECTcom.com>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Why does DMSO help muscle pain?
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 11:51:15 -0700
Message-ID: <bg9433$n92$1@slb3.atl.mindspring.net>

"Eric Wilk" <Eric.Wilk@tufts.edu> wrote in message
news:3F280A93.1BB502F8@tufts.edu...
> Any ideas?  Why did it get taken off the market in the US?
>
> -- Eric


Who's going to do the $100 of clinical tests to show it
works, when you can't patent the end product?

Also, the clinical testing would be very difficult, because
even the pure stuff smells (a cross between creamed corn and
oysters. If you're lucky).

The FDA won't allow advertising or sale for medicinal uses
of non-nutrients, non-herbs, and non-homeopathics which
haven't been though clinical trials. DMSO doesn't qualify
for any of these categories.

It's not off the market-- you merely need to buy it from a
chemical company. Of course, chemical companies are very
tight these days, what with liability and the war on drugs.
Sorry.

As to whether it works or not, who knows?

Steve