Not all MSM is the same. The method by which methylsulfonylmethane is produced has a profound impact on its purity, contaminant profile, bioavailability, and stability. OptiMSM® (manufactured by Bergstrom Nutrition) is the only MSM produced in the United States using a multi-stage distillation process — a fundamentally different and superior manufacturing approach compared to the crystallization method used by most other MSM suppliers.
Distillation vs. Crystallization: What It Means for Quality
Most MSM on the market is produced via crystallization — a process that can trap impurities, residual solvents, and heavy metals within the crystal matrix. Crystallized MSM may appear pure by simple assay but can contain occluded contaminants that are not detected by basic testing.
OptiMSM uses a multi-stage distillation process, which:
- Removes impurities through repeated volatilization — only compounds that vaporize at the same temperature as MSM carry through, and these are then condensed to exceptionally high purity
- Eliminates heavy metals, residual solvents, and biological contaminants that cannot volatilize
- Produces a consistently 99.9%+ pure product with no crystallization-trapped impurities
- Has been manufactured in the USA since 1989 under pharmaceutical-grade quality controls
Research Conducted with OptiMSM
Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement
Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ. Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290.
DOI: 10.3390/nu9030290 | PMID: 28300758 | Free PMC Article
This review — co-authored by Bergstrom Nutrition’s research director Rodney Benjamin — provides the most comprehensive overview of MSM research available. The body of clinical evidence supporting MSM’s safety and efficacy has been built almost exclusively using OptiMSM, which means:
- The documented safety data (GRAS status, FDA DSHEA compliance, toxicology studies) was established using distilled OptiMSM
- The clinical trials demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects used OptiMSM as the test article
- Researchers cannot assume that crystallized MSM from other sources has the same purity, stability, or bioavailability profile as the product used in published studies
Effects of MSM on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress (Clinical Trial with OptiMSM)
Withee ED, Tippens KM, Dehen R, et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2017;14:24.
DOI: 10.1186/s12970-017-0181-z | PMID: 28736511 | Free PMC Article
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial specifically used OptiMSM as the supplemental form, demonstrating significant reductions in post-exercise oxidative stress and muscle damage. The use of distilled OptiMSM ensured that the measured effects were attributable to pure MSM rather than confounded by impurities present in lower-quality crystallized products.
Stability Advantage
Distilled MSM is also more stable over time. Crystallized MSM can absorb moisture, clump, and begin to degrade, reducing potency and shelf life. The distillation process produces a hygroscopically stable compound that maintains potency throughout its labeled shelf life — an important consideration for equine supplements that may be used over extended periods.
Why This Matters for Improve Equine Benchmark
Benchmark uses OptiMSM exclusively. This means your horse receives the same purity and quality that has been validated in peer-reviewed clinical research — not a generic crystallized product of unknown provenance. When evaluating any MSM supplement, asking whether it contains OptiMSM (distilled) versus generic crystallized MSM is one of the most important quality questions you can ask.
Note: OptiMSM® is a registered trademark of Bergstrom Nutrition. Always consult a veterinarian regarding your horse’s supplementation needs.
Frequently Asked Questions: OptiMSM and MSM Quality for Horses
What is OptiMSM and why does it matter for horses?
Short answer: OptiMSM is the only MSM produced in the United States via multi-stage distillation, resulting in 99.9%+ purity without the crystallization-trapped impurities found in most generic MSM — and it is the form used in virtually all published MSM clinical research. This distinction matters because the safety data, GRAS designation, and clinical trial results that support MSM supplementation were generated using OptiMSM specifically. Generic crystallized MSM may test as “pure” on basic assays but can contain occluded heavy metals and residual solvents not detectable by standard testing. For horses under therapeutic supplementation, receiving the same form studied in peer-reviewed trials is a meaningful quality assurance.
Is there a quality difference between MSM supplements for horses?
Short answer: Yes — the manufacturing method is the single most important quality indicator for MSM. Distillation-process MSM (OptiMSM) is demonstrably purer and more stable than crystallization-process MSM, and the entire body of clinical evidence supporting MSM’s efficacy was built with distilled OptiMSM. Most MSM sold in equine supplements is crystallized and sourced from generic overseas manufacturers without the same quality controls. Asking whether a supplement contains OptiMSM by name is the most direct way to assess quality. The price difference between OptiMSM-based supplements and generic MSM products reflects a real difference in purity and traceability — not marketing.
How does OptiMSM compare to standard MSM for equine joint support?
Short answer: All of the clinical evidence supporting MSM’s joint health benefits — reduced pain scores, improved physical function, cartilage-protective effects — was generated using OptiMSM. You cannot assume generic crystallized MSM delivers the same outcomes. The sulfur in MSM supports cartilage matrix integrity through glycosaminoglycan synthesis, while its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the cytokine-driven degradation of collagen. These effects were demonstrated in studies using OptiMSM as the test article. When evaluating an equine joint supplement, confirming that it contains OptiMSM rather than generic MSM is one of the most important label-reading distinctions you can make. See the detailed research in the MSM inflammation article.
Is OptiMSM stable in horse supplements over time?
Short answer: Yes — distillation-process MSM is hygroscopically stable and maintains potency throughout its labeled shelf life, unlike crystallized MSM which can absorb moisture, clump, and begin to degrade. For equine supplements used over extended periods — particularly in the barn environment where temperature and humidity fluctuate — product stability is a practical concern. A supplement that has degraded to 60% potency by the time it’s used is not delivering what the label claims. OptiMSM’s stability advantage is particularly relevant for horses on ongoing therapeutic protocols where consistent dosing matters for maintaining the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects demonstrated in research.
Where does Improve Equine source its MSM?
Short answer: Benchmark uses OptiMSM exclusively — the distilled, US-manufactured form validated in peer-reviewed clinical research, not a generic crystallized product. The commitment to using OptiMSM rather than a cheaper generic MSM is one of the clearest expressions of the Improve Equine philosophy: ingredient sourcing decisions should be traceable to the research. If a study showing MSM’s anti-inflammatory benefits used OptiMSM, then giving your horse a different, less-pure form of MSM is not delivering what the study demonstrated. Read more about the Benchmark product and the science behind it on the Benchmark page, and explore the full ingredient library at the Improve Equine Library. For overall horse health context, see the Complete Guide to Horse Hydration.
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