Sulfur - Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms and Food Sources

What is Sulfur?

Sulfur (also spelled sulphur) is derived from the Latin name for this element, sulphurium. Sulfur represents about 0.25 percent of our total body weight, similar to potassium. Sulfur is also important in the structure of antibodies, and the sulfide group of cysteine is important in the activity of various enzymes.

Sulfur is found in every living cell. It's part of the molecules that form the amino acids (protein building blocks) methionine, cysteine, and taurine, which are essential for health. It's a constituent of vitamin B1 and biotin, the antioxidant glutathione, the anticoagulant heparin, and coenzyme. Sulfur is an integral part of the biological cement that forms skin, hair, nails, and the cartilage that shapes your nose and pads your joints.

Uses and Benefits of Sulfur

Sulfur is used to treat many kinds of skin disorders. Sulfur cream, lotion, ointment, and bar soap are used to treat acne. Sulfur ointment is used to treat seborrheic dermatitis and scabies. In terms of metabolic processes, sulfur contributes to the digestion and absorption of fat, because it is needed to help make bile acids.

Sulfur baths, and other forms of sulfur applied directly to the skin, seem to benefit psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, folliculitis (infected hair follicles), warts, and pityriasis versicolor.

Recommended Dosage of Sulfur

There is no official Recommended Dietary Allowance or Dietary Reference Intake for this mineral but as a guideline, you need more than 100 mg of sulfur per day.

Deficiency Symptoms of Sulfur

No recommended intake levels have been established for sulfur. Since most Western diets are high in protein, the majority of diets probably supply enough sulfur. Deficiencies of sulfur have not been documented, although a protein-deficient diet could theoretically lead to a deficiency of sulfur. Low levels of cystine, and therefore possibly sulfur, was reported many years ago in people with arthritis.

Rich Food Sources of Sulfur

Beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, dairy products, eggs, fish, garlic, horseradish, kale, legumes, meats, onions, organ meats, soybeans, turnips, watercress and wheat germ.

Cautions and side effects of Sulfur 

Sulfur is one of the key substances that makes garlic the "king of herbs." Excess sulfur is excreted in urine, so is essentially non-toxic.