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Sulfur
Sulfur (S) is a nonmetallic element that is found
mainly as part of larger compounds.
Sulfur represents about 0.25 percent of our total body weight, similar to
potassium. The body contains approximately 140 grams of sulfur-mainly in the
proteins, although it is distributed in small amounts in all cells and tissues.
Sulfur has a characteristic odor that can be smelled when hair or sheep's wool
is burned. Keratin, present in the skin, hair, and nails, is particularly high
in the amino acid cystine, which is found in sulfur. The sulfur-sulfur bond in
keratin gives it greater strength.
Sulfur is present in four amino acids: methionine, an essential amino acid;
the nonessential cystine and cysteine, which can be made from methionine; and
taurine, which is not part of body tissues but does help produce bile acid for
digestion. Sulfur is also present in two B vitamins, thiamine and biotin;
interestingly, thiamine is important to skin and biotin to hair. Sulfur is also
available as various sulfates or sulfides. But overall, sulfur is most important
as part of protein.
Sulfur - occurs also as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). MSM
has been helpful in allowing doctors to be able to lower the dosage of
medication that they prescribe for pain relief. In some instances they were able
to completely discontinue the medication previously prescribed. MSM
supplies biologically active sulfur as a nutritional supplement.
IMPORTANCE:
As part of four amino acids, sulfur performs a number of functions in enzyme
reactions and protein synthesis. It is necessary for formation of collagen, the
protein found in connective tissue in our bodies. Sulfur is also present in
keratin, which is necessary for the maintenance of the skin, hair, and nails,
helping to give strength, shape, and hardness to these protein tissues. Sulfur
is also present in the fur and feathers of other animals. The cystine in hair
gives off the sulfur smell when it is burned. Sulfur, as cystine and methionine,
is part of other important body chemicals: insulin, which helps regulate
carbohydrate metabolism, and heparin, an anticoagulant. Taurine is found in bile
acids, used in digestion. The sulfur-containing amino acids help form other
substances as well, such as biotin, coenzyme A, lipoic acid, and glutathione.
The mucopoly-saccharides may contain chondroitin sulfate, which is important to
joint tissues.
Sulfur is important to cellular respiration, as it is needed in the
oxidation-reduction reactions that help the cells utilize oxygen, which aids
brain function and all cell activity. These reactions are dependent on cysteine,
which also helps the liver produce bile secretions and eliminate other toxins.
L-cysteine is thought to generally help body detoxification mechanisms through
the tripeptide compound, glutathione.
Deficiency and toxicity: There is minimal reason for concern
about either toxicity or deficiency of sulfur in the body. No clearly defined
symptoms exist with either state. Sulfur deficiency is more common when foods
are grown in sulfur-depleted soil, with low-protein diets, or with a lack of
intestinal bacteria, though none of these seems to cause any problems in regard
to sulfur functions and metabolism.
Diet recommendations: There is no specific RDA for sulfur
other than the amino acids of which they are part are needed to meet protein
requirements. Our needs are usually easily met through diet. About 850 mg. are
thought to be needed for basic turnover of sulfur in the body. There is not much
information available on sulfur content of foods, nor are there supplements
specifically for sulfur.
Food Sources: As part of four amino acids, sulfur is readily
available in protein foods-meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and legumes are all
good sources. Egg yolks are one of the better sources of sulfur. Other foods
that contain this somewhat smelly mineral are onions, garlic, cabbage, brussels
sprouts, and turnips. Nuts have some, as do kale, lettuce, kelp and other
seaweed, and raspberries. Complete vegetarians (those who eat no eggs or milk)
and people on low-protein diets may not get sufficient amounts of sulfur; the
resulting sulfur deficiency is difficult to differentiate clinically from
protein deficiency, which is of much greater concern.
Recent research: Clinical experience has
shown that MSM provides major pain relief through the following actions:
- The inhibition of pain impulses along nerve
fibers
- Lessening of inflammation
- Increasing of blood supply
- Reduction of muscle spasm
- Softening of scar tissue
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