Vitamins, Minerals and Dietary Supplements
What is sulfur? Why do we need it?
The mineral sulfur plays a vital role in the body. As an individual
element, it makes up an important part of the proteins responsible
for the formation of hair, muscles and skin. It is also a
component of bones, teeth and collagen. It is also an important
ingredient in insulin, the substance used to regulate blood
sugar.
In terms of metabolic processes, sulfur contributes to the
digestion and absorption of fat, because it is needed to help
make bile acids. It is also necessary for synthesizing collagen,
and is required for the metabolism of several vitamins, including
thiamine, biotin and pantothenic acid. Many health experts
claim that a sulfur-containing supplement known as methylsulfonylmethane
(MSM) can treat a wide variety of disorders. To date, these
claims remain unsubstantiated.
How much sulfur should I take?
A recommended daily allowance for sulfur has yet to be established.
However, because most dietary sulfur is consumed as part of
certain amino acids (methionine, cystine and cysteine) found
in foods rich in protein, diets that contain high amounts
of protein-rich foods should provide an adequate source of
dietary sulfur.
What are some good sources of sulfur?
What forms are available?
Meat and poultry, organ meats, fish, beans and dairy products
are all good sources of sulfur-containing amino acids. Sulfur
also occurs in garlic and onions. Many supplements also provide
trace amounts of sulfur.
What can happen if I don't get enough
sulfur? What can happen if I take too much? Are there any
side-effects I should be aware of?
Sulfur deficiencies have yet to be thoroughly documented.
A study in the 1930s found that patients with arthritis appeared
to have low levels of sulfur, but no definitive link has been
established. Protein-deficient diets and use of tobacco may
lead to sulfur deficiency, but since most Western diets are
high in protein, they probably supply an adequate amount of
sulfur.
As of this writing, there are no known side-effects or drug
interactions with the use of sulfur supplements.
References
- Augusti KT. Therapeutic values of onion
(Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.).
Ind J Exp Biol 1996;34:634—40.
- Bella DL, Hahn C, Stipanuk MH. Effects
of nonsulfur and sulfur amino acids on the regulation of
hepatic enzymes of cysteine metabolism. Am J Physiol
1999 Jul;277(1 Pt 1):E144-53.
- Cole DE, Evrovski J. The clinical chemistry
of inorganic sulfate. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2000
Aug;37(4):299-344.
- Hamadeh MJ, Hoffer LJ. Use of sulfate
production as a measure of short-term sulfur amino acid
catabolism in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab
2001 Jun;280(6):E857-66.
- Magee EA, Richardson CJ, Hughes R, Cummings
JH. Contribution of dietary protein to sulfide production
in the large intestine: an in vitro and a controlled feeding
study in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 Dec;72(6):1488-94.
