When I went to buy a new jar of Glucosamine/Chondroitin caplets today, I noticed a lot of them were "new and improved" since the last time with MSM. I bought one that had the MSM in it, just wanted to make sure it's fine to take this as well? I never heard of it before.

Its a perfect match w/ the glucosamine. Those work well together.

Check John's daily supp log! :)

I've heard that MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is chemically similar to DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). From my lab experience in school I learned that DMSO is a solvent which allows nearly anything dissolved in it to pass through the skin along with it. We had to learn that because typically whatever was dissolved in it was dangerous. Anyway, I feel as if a supplement containing MSM along with the glucosamine and chondroitin would likely be absorbed in your stomach/intestines more readily than one not containing MSM. I really don't know though, just guessing based on that other knowledge. Also, I have read somewhere that some people in the past have supplemented for their joints with DMSO and had good results so who knows? maybe it is just the MSM that is helping and not its contribution to solubility?

/doesn't feel like proofreading...hope that made any sort of sense.

MSM is not a solvent, nor is it in joint supps to enhance bioavailability of other compounds. Here is some info from DSEA:
http://content.nhiondemand.com/dse/consumer/monoAll-style.asp?objID=100028&ctype=ds&mtyp=4