The authors report that DMSO demonstrated ex vivo anti-inflammatory activity in whole human blood from healthy volunteers stimulated with E. coli. They found that concentrations of 0.5% and higher significantly suppressed PGE2 secretion, and that many pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly reduced.

The systematic review concludes that DMSO is effective as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, with positive effects on wound healing, especially at concentrations equal to or larger than five percent. It also says the reviewed studies were often small and methodologically limited, which blurs the certainty of that conclusion.

The only FDA-approved use of DMSO in humans is for treatment of interstitial cystitis. The review states that the focus of earlier human studies was demonstrating anti-inflammatory properties delivered locally rather than systemically, and that DMSO has been used as an active pharmaceutical agent, primarily anti-inflammatory.

In contrast to this traditional application, DMSO has recently been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects, such as immune enhancement, and anti-inflammatory effects in the innate immunity.[4] This review briefly summarizes and highlights the roles and immunomodulatory effects of DMSO on the immune system and reveals the future clinical therapeutic potential of DMSO treatment in cancer, in autoimmune diseases and in chronic inflammatory diseases.[4] The data from these studies indicate that DMSO exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect that may result from the suppression of the activation of the NF-κB or the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK.[9]

The review included 109 human studies and found that gastrointestinal and skin reactions were the commonest reported adverse reactions. It does not address efficacy directly, but it is a primary human review showing that DMSO has measurable biological effects in humans and is not an inert placebo substance.

The paper states that DMSO is generally used at relatively low concentrations and has medically useful properties such as inducing anti-inflammation. The study itself reports that DMSO induces major changes in human cellular processes, but it does not present a human clinical efficacy trial for anti-inflammatory benefit.

In this study we evaluated the efficacy of a solution containing essential oils with concentrations of known therapeutic agents for topical use, formulated with the skin permeation enhancers limonene and small amounts of DMSO in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.[3] After 10 days of twice daily application 78% of patients had an 85% or greater reduction in their pain scores, while placebo treatment was without effect (One Way ANOVA, P < 0.01).[3] Purported mechanisms of action include inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, cytokine production, and pro-inflammatory gene expression.[3]

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a versatile solvent with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has shown promise in preclinical and some clinical studies for their potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.[2] Anti-inflammatory properties: DMSO has been shown to reduce inflammation, a key driver in autoimmune diseases. It can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, molecules that promote inflammation.[2] Rheumatoid arthritis: Studies have demonstrated DMSO’s ability to reduce pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, potentially by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. More research is needed: Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety.[2]

The monograph states that the anti-inflammatory properties of DMSO are currently the most frequently utilized clinically. It also explains that DMSO's anti-inflammatory effect may be due to scavenging free radicals or inhibiting influx of inflammatory cells.

The article says DMSO "may possess anti-inflammatory properties" and that some anecdotal evidence suggests it may help with arthritic pain, but that there is no scientific evidence proving efficacy for arthritis. It also notes that FDA approval is limited to interstitial cystitis.

DMSO is used topically to decrease pain and speed the healing of wounds, burns, and muscle and skeletal injuries.[5] DMSO is also used topically to treat painful conditions such as headache, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe facial pain called tic douloureux.[5] More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of DMSO for these uses. It's important to note that DMSO is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when applied to the skin.[5]

This systematic review found that two of four DMSO trials reported significant improvement in pain outcomes versus comparator treatments. The review is about nutritional supplements and pain rather than inflammation specifically, but it is human trial evidence showing some symptomatic benefit in a subset of DMSO studies.

The review says DMSO has recently been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects, including anti-inflammatory effects in innate immunity. This is mechanistic and preclinical/experimental in nature rather than direct evidence from human clinical trials.

This experimental study in RAW264.7 murine macrophages reports that DMSO "alleviates LPS-induced inflammatory responses" by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. The authors state: "Taken together, these results suggest that DMSO exerts an anti-inflammatory action, which decreases the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in RAW264.7 cells." While not a human study, it provides mechanistic evidence consistent with anti-inflammatory effects observed in human cells and tissues.

The article reports that a systematic review of DMSO for osteoarthritis found only four clinical trials. It notes that higher-concentration trials were negative, lower-concentration trials were positive, and the evidence for a broad medical role is not convincing.

The systematic review found that two of the four DMSO trials reported significant improvement in pain outcomes compared with comparator treatments. This concerns pain and osteoarthritis outcomes, not a direct inflammatory biomarker endpoint.

The WebMD review says there is little or no scientific evidence to support most claims made about DMSO, and that a recent analysis found it was not significantly more effective than placebo for osteoarthritis pain relief.

Research done in humans tends to come in the form of cohort studies, where people choose to use DMSO and are followed to see what happens to their ailment. There is no control group to see what would have happened without resorting to DMSO.[8] In the few clinical trials done, placebo arms are rarely used. These lax methodologies invite a positive result that may not survive more rigorous testing.[8] A double blind placebo controlled study conducted in Germany and published in 1995 did show that 25% DMSO gel applied topically to arthritic joints did reduce pain during both rest and activity; however, these results could not be reproduced in the United States.[6]

My conclusion is that DMSO did not relieve any local or systemic inflammation in my case, but had no side effects.[7] DMSO is FDA approved and used for interstitial cystitis but many people use it off-label for pain and inflammation, with variable anecdotal results.[7] This is a single patient report and does not constitute controlled clinical evidence.[7]

The clinic page claims that DMSO has potent anti-inflammatory effects and may help reduce swelling and pain in conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. This is promotional medical marketing rather than primary evidence.