Sulfur: Function & Diseases

Sulfur is an inorganic chemical element that exists in a solid state at room temperature. Elemental sulfur is yellow and is present as a molecule in numerous compounds. Sulfur also plays a role in medicine for the therapy of chronic diseases, and its application can be both external and internal.

What is sulfur?

Sulfur is also known by its Latin name sulfur, a so-called nonmetal of lemon-yellow appearance and ubiquitous distribution. Elemental sulfur is not as common in nature as sulfur-containing compounds. Because of its reactivity, sulfur quickly forms compounds with other chemical elements, such as oxygen or carbon. The two best-known and most common sulfur compounds are sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, typically recognizable by its musty, foul odor. For all living things, i.e. for plants, animals, humans or even bacteria, sulfur is an essential element. Elemental sulfur, however, cannot be utilized by the human organism, but only inorganic and organic compounds containing the sulfur atom. Many microorganisms operate a so-called anaerobic energy production, which can only take place with the help of sulfur as a catalyst. In the organisms of complex living beings, including humans, sulfur is an indispensable component of numerous enzymes and amino acids. The development of life by evolution would therefore be inconceivable without sulfur.

Function, effect and tasks

Elemental sulfur is a crystalline substance of powdery consistency found on the earth’s surface in many rocks. Since the body is unable to synthesize sulfur itself, the chemical element must be supplied in the diet. However, sulfur-containing compounds are present in sufficient quantities in many staple foods, so that deficiency symptoms are unlikely to occur, at least in Western industrialized nations. The important tasks and the effect of sulfur result from its function as a central component or secondary component of enzyme complexes or amino acids. Many metabolic processes could therefore not function at all without sulfur as a molecule. If sulfur is taken as a dietary supplement, the internal effect is still not known. To remedy alleged sulfur deficiencies, the intake of organic sulfur in the state form as methylsulfonylmethane, better known by the abbreviated name MSM, is recommended. While mainstream medical science does not believe that sulfur deficiency occurs at all in normal diets, proponents of the sulfur deficiency theory believe that too little sulfur can lead to serious health disorders and impairments, which could be remedied by MSM intake. The possibility of overdose, side effects or toxic effects is not known with sulfur. In the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, sulfur is used in the production of artificial fertilizers, insecticides, dyes, and sulfuric acid, among others. Sulfur is also a component in certain explosives and black powder.

Formation, occurrence, properties and optimum values

When used externally, sulfur compounds stimulate wound healing, but also slightly dry the skin. Sulfur also has a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, thus inflammatory-rheumatic diseases can be positively influenced in their course. For acne and skin inflammations, sulfur is used as an additive in creams and ointments. For rheumatism, sulfur is often a component of bath additives. Internal use as MSM is said to strengthen the general defenses, promote blood circulation and stimulate circulation and metabolism. Patients with chronic or inflammatory conditions of the joints and musculoskeletal system in particular can apparently benefit from treatment with sulfur-containing compounds. The determination of elemental sulfur in the blood has not been common practice to date. Whether or not a sulfur deficiency is present can therefore only be determined indirectly by detecting sulfur-containing amino acids. The most important, physiologically relevant, sulfur-containing amino acid is homocysteine. It is an intermediate product of cell metabolism that can be used to make a good prognostic statement about vascular health.The risk of developing arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease or cholesterol metabolism disorders is also influenced by the sulfur-containing amino acid homocysteine. The normal value for homocysteine in adults is 6-12 µmol/liter in whole blood.

Diseases and disorders

If skin areas are burned, oozing, or severely inflamed, then sulfur-containing preparations should not be used. Warm water baths with sulfur additives must not be used by patients suffering from hypertension, febrile infections or cardiac insufficiency. The safety of sulfur application for pregnant women and unborn children has not yet been conclusively clarified. For this reason, sulfur should only be used during breastfeeding after consultation with the attending physician. Likewise, sulfur-containing compounds should not be used on small children and infants, as there is also a lack of experience in this area. Side effects of sulfur used internally may include mild gastrointestinal disturbances, while hypersensitivity reactions in the form of skin redness, swelling or skin dryness have been reported in isolated cases of external use. However, interactions with other drugs or medicinal preparations are not known. In addition to various physical symptoms, psychological symptoms such as anxiety or dejection are also reported to occur in connection with a sulfur deficiency. However, these are empirical reports that cannot be transferred to a collective of the general population. Therefore, use of organic sulfur to alleviate these symptoms should not be undertaken without consultation with a medical specialist. Interaction of organic sulfur compounds such as MSM with psychotropic drugs is considered to be excluded. In addition, sulfur is also said to have the potential to alleviate allergic symptoms.