I ran across this today but can’t seem to really find anything on it. Does MSM block selenium uptake?
Yes. We here in the PNW are very low on Selenium. I stopped feeding anything with MSM in it years ago. Unfortunately, it is a frequent addition to most supplements and hard to eliminate.
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I cannot find any studies or documentation to support that. I saw somewhere that it does in ruminants but you have to feed a lot of MSM for it to happen.
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I’ve never heard about it blocking selenium uptake. However, when the body synthesizes MSM, it converts into DMSO, which in theory would then make any supplements, vitamins, etc you’re feeding along with it be absorbed and utilized better. Definitely an interesting question OP, and one I hope someone with more knowledge chimes in on, as it would cause me to reconsider my current feeding routine.
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You would think it that were the case, horses all over would be experiencing problems with selenium deficiency. I too hope that someone with more knowledge will chime in.
RAyers maybe??
I learned of the problem with Selenium and MSM at the USDF convention many years ago when it was in Portland. The vet lecturing on sport horse nutrition and care (her name escapes me) made a special point to tell the local attendees about the risk. Sorry, I cannot site the studies, but I believed her!
Bumping up this old, zombie thread for two reasons:
Has this theory gained traction, or has it been put to bed?
If the former, would you then feed MSM separate to your fortified ration / supplement (like you do clay-based toxin binders), or this makes no difference?
I’m wanting to put one of mine on a high dose of MSM to see if it makes a difference with her neck, so was trolling through old posts when this interesting one popped up.
there’s some theory that it can, but for the life of me I can’t remember the mechanism by which it potentially happens nor how much MSM has to be consumed to make a difference.
Best to just test the Se every 3 months for 2-3 times while on the dose of MSM you want, to see if anything’s happening.
Your friendly resident equine nutritionist chiming in here.
Sulfur is a known antagonist for the absorption of multiple minerals, including selenium, copper, and zinc. It is abundant in most soils in the U.S. and rarely deficient in modern equine diets. MSM is a source of dietary sulfur. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume that adding MSM to a diet low or borderline in trace minerals may result in lower utilization of these important nutrients.
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Selenium isn’t always desirable. When living in Wyoming I learned that the soil there has an overabundance of it; some pastured stock actually die of selenium poisoning. Some pasture plants concentrate selenium from the soil.
