NOW Foods Celadrin & MSM

Cetylated fatty acids (Celadrin)· evidence: Insufficient

Cetylated fatty acids are fats that have been chemically bonded to cetyl alcohol. Celadrin is the best-known branded blend, and cetyl myristoleate is a related ingredient. They are sold in capsules and creams for joints.

Only a few small trials exist, mostly from the early 2000s and largely linked to the companies involved. They are too small and too few to say what these ingredients do, and there is no authorised health claim for them, so we make no claims about their effects.

Typical dose: Capsule studies used about 1.5 g a day

Safety: Generally well tolerated in small studies. Capsules are often gelatin. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take regular medication.

Research we looked at:
Hesslink R et al. (2002). Cetylated fatty acids improve knee function in patients with osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol 29(8):1708–1712.
Kraemer WJ et al. (2004). Effect of a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on functional mobility and quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol 31(4):767–774.

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)· evidence: Limited

MSM is a sulphur compound found in small amounts in some foods. It is popular in joint and beauty supplements. A handful of small, short trials have looked at it, mostly at 1.5–6 g a day, with modest and inconsistent results, and several were linked to the companies that make it.

There is not enough good evidence to say what it does for healthy people, and there is no authorised health claim for it, so we make no claims about its effects. It appears to be well tolerated at the doses studied.

Typical dose: Studies mostly used 1.5–6 g a day

Safety: Generally well tolerated. Can cause stomach upset, wind or loose stools, and some people find it disturbs sleep if taken late in the day. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take blood thinners.

Research we looked at:
Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ (2017). Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement. Nutrients 9(3):290.
EFSA NDA Panel (2018). Safety of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal 16(6):5290.

Cost per daily dose lets you compare packs of different sizes fairly.Worked out from our current prices.