Investigating the Hypoglycemic Effect of Methylsulfonylmethane in Rabbits

Abstract

Diabetes is a global health challenge, and as a chronic disease, it requires safe and effective long-term treatments. This study investigated the glucose-lowering effects of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) compared with metformin in a model of alloxan-induced diabetes. Alloxan selectively destroys pancreatic beta cells, leading to decreased insulin secretion and hyperglycemia. Four groups of rabbits (4 per group) were used: control, alloxan, metformin, and MSM groups. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured 24 hours after the end of dosing for all groups. MSM and metformin significantly reduced hyperglycemia, but MSM showed better results compared to metformin, possibly due to its protective effects on pancreatic beta cells. The study concludes that MSM may be a good therapeutic alternative or additional to established diabetes drugs such as metformin, and we recommend conducting histopathological studies on pancreatic cells to further confirm our results.