Sulfur in human nutrition and
applications in medicine
Sulfur in human nutrition and
applications in medicine
Parcell S.
American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research (AIBMR),
Tacoma, WA, USA. steveparcell@attbi.com
Because the role of elemental sulfur in human nutrition has
not been studied extensively, it is the purpose of this
article to emphasize the importance of this element in
humans and discuss the therapeutic applications of sulfur
compounds in medicine. Sulfur is the sixth most abundant
macromineral in breast milk and the third most abundant
mineral based on percentage of total body weight.
The
sulfur-containing amino acids (SAAs) are methionine,
cysteine, cystine, homocysteine, homocystine, and taurine.
Dietary SAA analysis and protein supplementation may be
indicated for vegan athletes, children, or patients with
HIV, because of an increased risk for SAA deficiency in
these groups.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a volatile
component in the sulfur cycle, is another source of sulfur
found in the human diet. Increases in serum sulfate may
explain some of the therapeutic effects of MSM, DMSO, and
glucosamine sulfate. Organic sulfur, as SAAs, can be used to
increase synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe),
glutathione (GSH), taurine, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
MSM
may be effective for the treatment of allergy, pain
syndromes, athletic injuries, and bladder disorders. Other
sulfur compounds such as SAMe, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO),
taurine, glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, and reduced
glutathione may also have clinical applications in the
treatment of a number of conditions such as depression,
fibromyalgia, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, athletic
injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and
AIDS. Dosages, mechanisms of action, and rationales for use
are discussed. The low toxicological profiles of these
sulfur compounds, combined with promising therapeutic
effects, warrant continued human clinical trails.
|