Pharmacokinetics and Distribution of [35S]Methylsulfonylmethane following Oral Administration to Rats

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2007-02, Vol.55 (3), p.1033-1038
• Main Authors: Magnuson, Bernadene A, Appleton, Jeremy, Ames, Gregory B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal tissues; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; blood chemistry; Dietary Supplements; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - administration & dosage; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - analysis; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacokinetics; excretion; feces; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; intestinal absorption; isotope labeling; Male; methylsulfonylmethane; oral administration; organic sulfur compounds; pharmacokinetics; radionuclides; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sulfones - administration & dosage; Sulfones - analysis; Sulfones - pharmacokinetics; sulfur; Sulfur Radioisotopes; Tissue Distribution; urine
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf0621469

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur-containing compound found in a wide range of human foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, and beverages. More recently, it has been marketed as a dietary supplement worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and distribution of radiolabeled MSM in rats. Male Sprague−Dawley rats were administered a single oral dose of [35S]MSM (500 mg/kg), and blood levels of radioactivity were determined at different time points for up to 48 h. Tissue levels of radioactivity at 48 and 120 h and urine and fecal radioactivity levels were measured at different time points for up to 120 h following [35S]MSM administration to rats. Oral [35S]MSM was rapidly and efficiently absorbed with a mean t max of 2.1 h, C max of 622 μg equiv/mL, and AUC0-inf of 15124 h·μg equiv/mL. The t 1/2 was 12.2 h. Soft tissue distribution of radioactivity indicated a fairly homogeneous distribution throughout the body with relatively lower concentrations in skin and bone. Approximately 85.8% of the dose was recovered in the urine after 120 h, whereas only 3% was found in the feces. No quantifiable levels of radioactivity were found in any tissues after 120 h, indicating complete elimination of [35S]MSM. The results of this study suggest that [35S]MSM is rapidly absorbed, well distributed, and completely excreted from the body. Keywords: Methylsulfonylmethane; absorption; pharmacokinetics; distribution