I just started MSM. i have enough MSM for 4 month. What are your experiences? How much faster did your hair grow?
» I just started MSM. i have enough MSM for 4 month. What are your
» experiences? How much faster did your hair grow?
I found my hair grew very very fast on it, but I had to take atleast 5,000 mg a day. 5 capsules per day spread out. Anything less I didn’t notice much of a difference.
- Pats
» » I just started MSM. i have enough MSM for 4 month. What are your
» » experiences? How much faster did your hair grow?
»
» I found my hair grew very very fast on it, but I had to take atleast 5,000
» mg a day. 5 capsules per day spread out. Anything less I didn’t notice much
» of a difference.
»
» - Pats
Want your hair to grow fast use horsetail
MSM is more for the texture and appearance of the hair, which it will help with immensely, it made my hair like silk
I have heard Horsetail works pretty good as well.
» I have heard Horsetail works pretty good as well.
horsetail will make your hair and fingernails grow like a weed
MSM however is not nearly as effective for speed of growth
it is more for overall shininess appearance, etc
the studies on MSM i have read refer to hairdressers being able to look and determine who was using MSM and who was not, based on the appearance of the hair shafts
that study said nothing about rate of growth however, so apparently MSM is not that spectacular for increasing growth rates, it is , as I said, for the appearance brilliance of the hair
http://www.essential-foods.co.uk/MSM-Studien/Lawrence-Hair-Nail-Report.htm
Clinical Trial Report
The Effectiveness of the Use of Oral Lignisul MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) Supplementation on Hair and Nail Health
This information is the property of Carolwood Corporation and may not be reproduced without explicit consent by an officer of the said company.
Ronald M. Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D.
Council for Natural Nutrition
Written by Elzbieta M. Kurowska, Ph.D.
KGK Synergize Inc.
The personal care products designed to improve growth and appearance of hair and nails continue to be demanded by the general population, regardless of gender and age. While numerous cosmetics and topical drugs are available on the market, effective oral supplements remain scarce. Structural proteins of hair and nails, keratins, contain very high level of sulfur, largely in the form of amino acids such as cystein and cystin. Thus, increased dietary intake of sulfur-rich supplements might be beneficial for hair and nail health. Consistently with this hypothesis, previous reports showed an improved growth and strength of hair or hoofs in animals given sulfur-rich supplements, such as dimethyl sulfate or methionine hydroxy analog (1-2).
Dietary sulfur-containing compounds are widely distributed in plant products and in cows’ milk (3-4). The most common organic sulfur compounds, thought to provide nearly 85% of daily sulfur, include methylsulfonylmethane (C2H6S2O, MSM), dimethylsulfoxide (C2H6SO, DMSO) and dimethylsulfide (C2H6S) (5-6). MSM, which is the richest dietary source of sulfur, is also known as one of the least toxic substances in biology (7). Previous studies demonstrated that low quantities of MSM are naturally present in human urine (8-9) and that sulfur from dietary MSM can incorporate into keratin-forming amino acids (10).
MSM supplementation has been suggested to be beneficial in treatment of various diseases (7), however, its possible role in promoting hair and nail health has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this present study was to initially evaluate the effect of MSM (Lignisul MSM as supplied by Carolwood Corporation) supplementation on growth and appearance of hair and nails in healthy human subjects.
Methods
Hair study
Twenty-one subjects (16 men and 5 women) with a mean (± SD) age of 53 ± 14 y (ranging from 34 to 81 y) were recruited for the hair study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Eleven subjects (9 men and 2 women) were asked to take daily capsules containing MSM at the dose 3,000 mg/day, for a period of 6 weeks. The remaining 10 subjects received placebo in identical capsules, for the same period of time. The placebo substance consisted of sucrose and a small amount of quinine sulfate added to create a slightly bitter taste, similar to that of MSM. The investigators and the subjects were blinded as to whether supplement capsules were with placebo or with MSM.
The hair health status was evaluated by Certified Cosmetologists under the direction of the Principal Investigator at the beginning of the study period ((t = 0) and after 6 weeks (t = 6 wk). The assessment of hair length, diameter and brilliance was done using industry-standard measurement scales.
Nail study
In the nail health study, 11 subjects (10 women and 1 men) with a mean (± SD) age of 45 ± 13 y (ranging from 28 to 61 y) were randomly assigned to take the placebo (6 subjects) or MSM (5 subjects). The double-blind design, doses and treatment periods were identical to those described for the hair health study. The nail health parameters, including length, thickness and lustre, were assessed by Certified Cosmetologists at the beginning of the study and after 6 wk treatment, using industry standard measurement scales.
Statistics
Changes in hair or nail health status induced by MSM vs. placebo supplementation were analyzed using non-parametric test followed by unpaired t-test and/or Wilcoxon test (for change in hair/nail length and hair diameter) and by chi-squared test (for changes in hair brilliance, nail thickness and nail lustre). The non-parametric tests were selected because of limited number of values and because the values within groups were not normally distributed.
Results
Hair study
All subjects completed the study and no adverse effects were reported. The results of the hair health assessment in control vs. treatment group are presented in Table 1 (all subjects) and Table 2 (males). In all subjects, and also in males given the MSM supplement, hair brilliance was significantly improved when compared to the controls (p = 0.012 and p = 0.034 for all subjects and males, respectively). The moderate improvement in hair brilliance (+ 1 point in the scale 1-4) was observed in 55% of all subjects (6 out of 11) and in 56% males (5 out of 9) treated with MSM. In contrast, no changes in hair brilliance were reported in any of the placebo-treated subjects or males. The results obtained in females remained inconclusive due to very small sizes of placebo and treatment groups.
Analysis of changes in the remaining indicators of hair health status, hair length and diameter, did not show significant differences between the groups. Hair length increases tended to be greater in MSM-treated males than in their placebo-given counterparts (+20%, p = 0.20, p = 0.10 by unpaired t-test and by Wilcoxon test, respectively) but a similar trend was not observed for all subjects. Hair diameter did not tend to improve after 6 weeks of MSM supplementation.
Nail study
In the nail study, dietary supplements also did not cause any adverse effects but in the placebo group, only 4 out of 6 subjects had completed the 6 wk evaluation. The results (Table 3) did not show statistically significant differences between the treatment and placebo group, however, two out of three parameters of nail health status, nail length and thickness, had a tendency to improve after the MSM supplementation. The mean nail length increases were 2.5 fold greater in the MSM group than in the controls. Also, small beneficial changes in nail thickness (+0.5 point in the scale 1-4) tended to occur in 40% of subjects treated with MSM (2 out of 5 individuals) but not in placebo-treated controls. No benefits of MSM were reported for nail lustre.
Discussion
The results of the above pilot studies confirmed previous finding that in humans, chronic supplementation with MSM is unlikely to produce adverse health effects (6). The results also suggested that in healthy human subjects, a 6 wk supplementation with MSM (3 g/day) might beneficially affect the appearance of hair by significantly improving its brilliance. This observation is consistent with previous reports, which showed improved hair health parameters in animals fed diets supplemented with sulfur-rich compounds (1-2). Treatment with MSM did not produce significant changes in other parameters measured, such as hair length and diameter or nail length, thickness and luster, although male subjects given MSM tended to experience a better hair growth than their placebo-treated counterparts. The limited positive changes in hair health and lack of statistically significant improvement in nail health observed after MSM intervention are likely related to small group sizes and short periods of treatment. To verify this preliminary data, future full size trials should involve larger groups of subjects and longer periods of MSM treatment. The new trial should also utilize a crossover design, with periodical monitoring of blood sulfur concentrations as a marker of compliance.
© 2004 Essential Foods b.v.
yes, I agree. MSM’s ability to grow hair significantly faster than normal is a myth.
Hangin, horsetail claims have been made, just like MSM claims, that it grows hair fast. Is there any study backing this up?
» » I have heard Horsetail works pretty good as well.
»
» horsetail will make your hair and fingernails grow like a weed
»
» MSM however is not nearly as effective for speed of growth
» it is more for overall shininess appearance, etc
» the studies on MSM i have read refer to hairdressers being able to look
» and determine who was using MSM and who was not, based on the appearance of
» the hair shafts
» that study said nothing about rate of growth however, so apparently MSM is
» not that spectacular for increasing growth rates, it is , as I said, for
» the appearance brilliance of the hair
»
» http://www.essential-foods.co.uk/MSM-Studien/Lawrence-Hair-Nail-Report.htm
»
»
»
» Clinical Trial Report
» The Effectiveness of the Use of Oral Lignisul MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
» Supplementation on Hair and Nail Health
» This information is the property of Carolwood Corporation and may not be
» reproduced without explicit consent by an officer of the said company.
» Ronald M. Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D.
» Council for Natural Nutrition
» Written by Elzbieta M. Kurowska, Ph.D.
» KGK Synergize Inc.
»
»
» The personal care products designed to improve growth and appearance of
» hair and nails continue to be demanded by the general population,
» regardless of gender and age. While numerous cosmetics and topical drugs
» are available on the market, effective oral supplements remain scarce.
» Structural proteins of hair and nails, keratins, contain very high level of
» sulfur, largely in the form of amino acids such as cystein and cystin.
» Thus, increased dietary intake of sulfur-rich supplements might be
» beneficial for hair and nail health. Consistently with this hypothesis,
» previous reports showed an improved growth and strength of hair or hoofs in
» animals given sulfur-rich supplements, such as dimethyl sulfate or
» methionine hydroxy analog (1-2).
» Dietary sulfur-containing compounds are widely distributed in plant
» products and in cows’ milk (3-4). The most common organic sulfur compounds,
» thought to provide nearly 85% of daily sulfur, include
» methylsulfonylmethane (C2H6S2O, MSM), dimethylsulfoxide (C2H6SO, DMSO) and
» dimethylsulfide (C2H6S) (5-6). MSM, which is the richest dietary source of
» sulfur, is also known as one of the least toxic substances in biology (7).
» Previous studies demonstrated that low quantities of MSM are naturally
» present in human urine (8-9) and that sulfur from dietary MSM can
» incorporate into keratin-forming amino acids (10).
» MSM supplementation has been suggested to be beneficial in treatment of
» various diseases (7), however, its possible role in promoting hair and nail
» health has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this present
» study was to initially evaluate the effect of MSM (Lignisul MSM as supplied
» by Carolwood Corporation) supplementation on growth and appearance of hair
» and nails in healthy human subjects.
»
»
» Methods
»
» Hair study
» Twenty-one subjects (16 men and 5 women) with a mean (± SD) age of 53 ± 14
» y (ranging from 34 to 81 y) were recruited for the hair study. Participants
» were randomly assigned to two groups. Eleven subjects (9 men and 2 women)
» were asked to take daily capsules containing MSM at the dose 3,000 mg/day,
» for a period of 6 weeks. The remaining 10 subjects received placebo in
» identical capsules, for the same period of time. The placebo substance
» consisted of sucrose and a small amount of quinine sulfate added to create
» a slightly bitter taste, similar to that of MSM. The investigators and the
» subjects were blinded as to whether supplement capsules were with placebo
» or with MSM.
» The hair health status was evaluated by Certified Cosmetologists under the
» direction of the Principal Investigator at the beginning of the study
» period ((t = 0) and after 6 weeks (t = 6 wk). The assessment of hair
» length, diameter and brilliance was done using industry-standard
» measurement scales.
» Nail study
» In the nail health study, 11 subjects (10 women and 1 men) with a mean (±
» SD) age of 45 ± 13 y (ranging from 28 to 61 y) were randomly assigned to
» take the placebo (6 subjects) or MSM (5 subjects). The double-blind design,
» doses and treatment periods were identical to those described for the hair
» health study. The nail health parameters, including length, thickness and
» lustre, were assessed by Certified Cosmetologists at the beginning of the
» study and after 6 wk treatment, using industry standard measurement
» scales.
» Statistics
» Changes in hair or nail health status induced by MSM vs. placebo
» supplementation were analyzed using non-parametric test followed by
» unpaired t-test and/or Wilcoxon test (for change in hair/nail length and
» hair diameter) and by chi-squared test (for changes in hair brilliance,
» nail thickness and nail lustre). The non-parametric tests were selected
» because of limited number of values and because the values within groups
» were not normally distributed.
»
» Results
»
»
» Hair study
» All subjects completed the study and no adverse effects were reported. The
» results of the hair health assessment in control vs. treatment group are
» presented in Table 1 (all subjects) and Table 2 (males). In all subjects,
» and also in males given the MSM supplement, hair brilliance was
» significantly improved when compared to the controls (p = 0.012 and p =
» 0.034 for all subjects and males, respectively). The moderate improvement
» in hair brilliance (+ 1 point in the scale 1-4) was observed in 55% of all
» subjects (6 out of 11) and in 56% males (5 out of 9) treated with MSM. In
» contrast, no changes in hair brilliance were reported in any of the
» placebo-treated subjects or males. The results obtained in females remained
» inconclusive due to very small sizes of placebo and treatment groups.
» Analysis of changes in the remaining indicators of hair health status,
» hair length and diameter, did not show significant differences between the
» groups. Hair length increases tended to be greater in MSM-treated males
» than in their placebo-given counterparts (+20%, p = 0.20, p = 0.10 by
» unpaired t-test and by Wilcoxon test, respectively) but a similar trend was
» not observed for all subjects. Hair diameter did not tend to improve after
» 6 weeks of MSM supplementation.
»
»
» Nail study
» In the nail study, dietary supplements also did not cause any adverse
» effects but in the placebo group, only 4 out of 6 subjects had completed
» the 6 wk evaluation. The results (Table 3) did not show statistically
» significant differences between the treatment and placebo group, however,
» two out of three parameters of nail health status, nail length and
» thickness, had a tendency to improve after the MSM supplementation. The
» mean nail length increases were 2.5 fold greater in the MSM group than in
» the controls. Also, small beneficial changes in nail thickness (+0.5 point
» in the scale 1-4) tended to occur in 40% of subjects treated with MSM (2
» out of 5 individuals) but not in placebo-treated controls. No benefits of
» MSM were reported for nail lustre.
»
»
» Discussion
» The results of the above pilot studies confirmed previous finding that in
» humans, chronic supplementation with MSM is unlikely to produce adverse
» health effects (6). The results also suggested that in healthy human
» subjects, a 6 wk supplementation with MSM (3 g/day) might beneficially
» affect the appearance of hair by significantly improving its brilliance.
» This observation is consistent with previous reports, which showed improved
» hair health parameters in animals fed diets supplemented with sulfur-rich
» compounds (1-2). Treatment with MSM did not produce significant changes in
» other parameters measured, such as hair length and diameter or nail length,
» thickness and luster, although male subjects given MSM tended to experience
» a better hair growth than their placebo-treated counterparts. The limited
» positive changes in hair health and lack of statistically significant
» improvement in nail health observed after MSM intervention are likely
» related to small group sizes and short periods of treatment. To verify this
» preliminary data, future full size trials should involve larger groups of
» subjects and longer periods of MSM treatment. The new trial should also
» utilize a crossover design, with periodical monitoring of blood sulfur
» concentrations as a marker of compliance.
» © 2004 Essential Foods b.v.
horsetail study> never seen one, not to say its not out there
personal experience? my hair and nails grew double or faster the normal rate
nails grew so fast i got tired of cutting them, perhaps i had to cut them double or triple the amount of times i normally do
horsetail works, and the difference is quite noticable, its not subtle you wil see the difference
» I just started MSM. i have enough MSM for 4 month. What are your
» experiences? How much faster did your hair grow?
MSM didn’t do a thing for my hair loss. Didn’t do a thing for my hair growth. Perhaps I wasn’t taking enough…
I have had much greater success with tocotrienols (vitamin E) found in herbal formulas like Jarrow’s TOCO-SORB and Primordial Performance’s TOCO-8.
MSM really did make my hair grow much faster, nails too. Just had to take quite a bit of it per day.
» » I just started MSM. i have enough MSM for 4 month. What are your
» » experiences? How much faster did your hair grow?
»
» MSM didn’t do a thing for my hair loss. Didn’t do a thing for my hair
» growth. Perhaps I wasn’t taking enough…
»
» I have had much greater success with tocotrienols (vitamin E) found in
» herbal formulas like Jarrow’s TOCO-SORB and Primordial Performance’s
» TOCO-8.
MSM is not for hair growth,
MSM is not for hair loss
read my MSM post above with the study i posted
it is for the overall hair appearance, Brilliance, shine, texture etc
» MSM is not for hair growth,
» MSM is not for hair loss
»
» read my MSM post above with the study i posted
» it is for the overall hair appearance, Brilliance, shine, texture etc
Yes, and had I known of this study earlier, I would have waited to purchase MSM. I should not have included MSM in my regimen at that time.
First and foremost, one must get his hair loss under control. After which, he can afford to address such issues as hair’s brilliance, shine, etc.
Interestingly, I have been reading posts at another forum (HLH), and a majority of them claim faster growth with MSM, but not much thickness.
» Interestingly, I have been reading posts at another forum (HLH), and a
» majority of them claim faster growth with MSM, but not much thickness.
I get much faster growth when using MSM, no improvement in thickness.
» » Interestingly, I have been reading posts at another forum (HLH), and a
» » majority of them claim faster growth with MSM, but not much thickness.
»
» I get much faster growth when using MSM, no improvement in thickness.
I guess, as with most things, it depends on the person. I am at a point now, and have been for over a year (little to no dandruff, stabilized hair loss, regrowth), where I can afford to pursue this extremely inexpensive venture: MSM. I am really curious as to whether or not MSM can thicken up some of these regrown hairs.
Through research, I have gotten mixed reviews about this supplement. My own experience with MSM has been nothing extraordinary. In fact, it didn’t do anything that I could tell, as I previously stated. Perhaps I was looking to MSM for the wrong thing. Now, I know better, and will assess the changes in rate of growth and/or thickness, if any.
TN
» » » Interestingly, I have been reading posts at another forum (HLH), and a
» » » majority of them claim faster growth with MSM, but not much
» thickness.
» »
» » I get much faster growth when using MSM, no improvement in thickness.
»
»
» I guess, as with most things, it depends on the person. I am at a point
» now, and have been for over a year (little to no dandruff, stabilized hair
» loss, regrowth), where I can afford to pursue this extremely inexpensive
» venture: MSM. I am really curious as to whether or not MSM can thicken up
» some of these regrown hairs.
»
» Through research, I have gotten mixed reviews about this supplement. My
» own experience with MSM has been nothing extraordinary. In fact, it didn’t
» do anything that I could tell, as I previously stated. Perhaps I was
» looking to MSM for the wrong thing. Now, I know better, and will assess
» the changes in rate of growth and/or thickness, if any.
»
» TN
why do you guys keep talking about MSM for growth rate
Horsetail wins the growth rate contest hands down
but you ignore it
» why do you guys keep talking about MSM for growth rate
»
» Horsetail wins the growth rate contest hands down
» but you ignore it
Actually, I am not really concerned about the rate of hair growth per se; I hope that MSM can provide thickness, as in your case. But of the posts that I have read, the majority say it increased their growth rate.
As for Horsetail, I think it was Jacob who stated that BioSil was far superior.
» » why do you guys keep talking about MSM for growth rate
» »
» » Horsetail wins the growth rate contest hands down
» » but you ignore it
»
» Actually, I am not really concerned about the rate of hair growth per se;
» I hope that MSM can provide thickness, as in your case. But of the posts
» that I have read, the majority say it increased their growth rate.
»
» As for Horsetail, I think it was Jacob who stated that BioSil was far
» superior.
thickness i think is all rolled up in one ball
you get thinning stunted growth hair, shorter thinner, and lighter in color that is in the death stages
if it gets revived as mine did with the dht blockers, the color, thickness and speed of growth all come back, albeit slowly
but i am not sure if vitamins, MSM etc are capable of by themselves increasing thickness, since this all ties into the hair being re vitalized, and the problem, in my case which was DHT, pretty much reversing itself. This can be a temporary situation but it is a major reversal of what is causing the follicles to die off, so thats why i think that thickening hair shafts is in no way easy, certainly not in the same category as speeding up growth rate.
MSM hasn’t done jack sh*t for my hair. Any studies to back up fast hair growth claims?
» » » why do you guys keep talking about MSM for growth rate
» » »
» » » Horsetail wins the growth rate contest hands down
» » » but you ignore it
» »
» » Actually, I am not really concerned about the rate of hair growth per
» se;
» » I hope that MSM can provide thickness, as in your case. But of the
» posts
» » that I have read, the majority say it increased their growth rate.
» »
» » As for Horsetail, I think it was Jacob who stated that BioSil was far
» » superior.
»
» thickness i think is all rolled up in one ball
»
» you get thinning stunted growth hair, shorter thinner, and lighter in
» color that is in the death stages
»
» if it gets revived as mine did with the dht blockers, the color, thickness
» and speed of growth all come back, albeit slowly
»
» but i am not sure if vitamins, MSM etc are capable of by themselves
» increasing thickness, since this all ties into the hair being re vitalized,
» and the problem, in my case which was DHT, pretty much reversing itself.
» This can be a temporary situation but it is a major reversal of what is
» causing the follicles to die off, so thats why i think that thickening hair
» shafts is in no way easy, certainly not in the same category as speeding up
» growth rate.
mj,
It didn’t do anything for my hair loss, when I took it several years ago. I was only taking 1000 mg. daily at that time, though. PATS stated that he didn’t see faster growth until he took 5000 mg. per day.
HanginInthere posted an MSM study in one of the above posts.
Now that I have gotten my hair loss under control, I am testing out Nature’s Way’s MSM. It would be nice to get some of my regrowth thickened up a bit. MSM is dirt cheap too.
I just started taking 3-4000 mg. a day, and will report changes, if any, that I experience.
TN
I was taking about 7,000 - 8,000 daily split
I read on many places that to see actual results one must take the MSM powed which comes at about 15,000 - 20,000gm per dose. MSM pills, stated, as being non-effective to growth. Have no idea how much truth it holds. I think those who say they benefited may have had a placebo affect. However, I’m not doubting its health benefits such as minor thickening/shine.
» MSM hasn’t done jack sh*t for my hair. Any studies to back up fast hair
» growth claims?
»
»
» » » » why do you guys keep talking about MSM for growth rate
» » » »
» » » » Horsetail wins the growth rate contest hands down
» » » » but you ignore it
» » »
» » » Actually, I am not really concerned about the rate of hair growth per
» » se;
» » » I hope that MSM can provide thickness, as in your case. But of the
» » posts
» » » that I have read, the majority say it increased their growth rate.
» » »
» » » As for Horsetail, I think it was Jacob who stated that BioSil was far
» » » superior.
» »
» » thickness i think is all rolled up in one ball
» »
» » you get thinning stunted growth hair, shorter thinner, and lighter in
» » color that is in the death stages
» »
» » if it gets revived as mine did with the dht blockers, the color,
» thickness
» » and speed of growth all come back, albeit slowly
» »
» » but i am not sure if vitamins, MSM etc are capable of by themselves
» » increasing thickness, since this all ties into the hair being re
» vitalized,
» » and the problem, in my case which was DHT, pretty much reversing
» itself.
» » This can be a temporary situation but it is a major reversal of what is
» » causing the follicles to die off, so thats why i think that thickening
» hair
» » shafts is in no way easy, certainly not in the same category as speeding
» up
» » growth rate.