About the quality of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)

OptiMSM™ is the world’s purest methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Every batch of OptiMSM is distilled for purity and undergoes the most rigorous analytical testing available, guaranteeing unsurpassed quality. MSM is an organic sulfur-containing nutrient that supports healthy active lifestyles by providing nutritionally essential sulfur and methyl groups. OptiMSM is the only brand of MSM with published, peer-reviewed safety data.  OptiMSM is licensed under the worldwide R.J. Herschler patents and is  100% made in the U.S.A. by Cardinal Nutrition. It is backed exclusively by Stanley Jacob, M.D., Medical Advisor of Cardinal Nutrition.

The OptiMSM difference

There are many different brands and forms of MSM in the marketplace. When you see the distinctive OptiMSM logo on KALA Health's MSM products, you know you're getting the original MSM patented and licensed for sale in the United States and throughout the world as a dietary supplement. OptiMSM is held to higher quality standards, tested by independent laboratories to guarantee the absence of harmful metal and biological contaminants, and is always guaranteed 99.9% pure methylsulfonylmethane.

OptiMSM offers you these advantages:

• Confidence. OptiMSM is manufactured in the United States according to strict manufacturing standards. MSM used in other products may contain impurities or contaminants.
• Purity. Every batch of OptiMSM is tested by an independent industry laboratory to ensure product purity and the absence of heavy metals, bacterium, or other contaminants.
• Nutritional Value. OptiMSM is comprised of 34% bioavailable sulfur-the richest source known to man.

• Safety. OptiMSM is non-allergenic and non-toxic. It is one of the safest compounds that we can consume, comparable to water. OptiMSM is Kosher certified-an additional assurance of quality and purity.

About the quality of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)

Originally, all MSM was produced in the US by Bergstrom Nutrition (previously Cardinal Nutrition). Bergstrom Nutrition is the only dedicated GMP MSM production facility in the world, eliminating the risk of contamination from toxins like benzene, toluene or pesticides. Bergstrom’s MSM is called OptiMSM.  In the past several years, however, MSM is also produced in plants in China and India and Canada and is imported into the US and EU under the same generic name but for prices that are less than one-fifth of the Bergstrom Nutrition made MSM. OptiMSM is pharmaceutical grade quality MSM, and is produced by the method of distillation. This process removes any potential impurities, leaving only pure MSM, i.e. OptiMSM. The quality is supported by a certificate of analysis for each batch produced, which shows that bacteria and yeasts are absent.  The concentrations of heavy metals, an important potential contaminant, is specified to be absent near the analytical levels of detection (for mercury, for example, at less than 0.001 parts per million).

Other producers use the crystallization method, which is a less expensive production process.  In this process, the MSM is dissolved in water and then dried, trapping any contaminants present in the water. This MSM comes with certificates of analysis in which the absence of yeast, bacteria and fungi is often not guaranteed, and the concentrations of heavy metals is shown as a generic group at less than 20 parts per million.

HOW DISTILLATION REMOVES CONTAMINANTS

Boiling Point 3164º F Lead 1409º F Cadmium 1135º F Arsenic 674º F Mercury	Impurities with high boiling points, such as heavy metals, remain in the bottom of the distillation vessel    (left figure)
478º F  MSM	Pure distilled OptiMSM
Boiling Point 360º F  Phenol 209º F  Heptane 176º F  Benzene	Contaminants with boiling points below that of MSM are removed as distillation temperatures approach MSM’s boiling point. MSM is separated from impurities, then condensed as a highly purified liquid that is then cooled into its final form (right figure)

The photo in the right shows OptiMSM^® after distillation. It is pure, i.e., free of contaminants. The left photo shows the contaminants left behind during the distillation process mostly comprised of heavy metals. These contaminants are all still present in the crystallization method, and although this cheaper MSM may look white and the manufacturer may claim “> 99% pure MSM”, small quantities of heavy metals and other contaminants will be present in this imported MSM.

The bottom line is that heavy metals in OptiMSM^® are guaranteed to be thousands of times lower than the levels in the cheaper import MSM. While it is not possible for consumers to verify this, selecting OptiMSM is a sure way to guarantee that you buy pure, clean MSM.