Sulfur Requirement

Sulfur Requirement: Overview

The mineral sulfur is needed for the manufacture of many proteins, including those forming hair, muscles, and skin.  Sulfur contributes to fat digestion and absorption, because it is needed to make bile acids.  Sulfur is also a constituent of bones, teeth, and collagen (the protein in connective tissue).  As a component of insulin, sulfur is needed to regulate blood sugar. Most of the body's sulfur is found in the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine, cystine, and cysteine.  Vitamin B1, biotin, and pantothenic acid also contain small amounts of sulfur.

Actual deficiencies of sulfur have not been documented, although a protein-deficient diet could theoretically lead to a deficiency of sulfur.

Treatment and Prevention

Most dietary sulfur is consumed as part of certain amino acids in protein-rich foods.  Meat and poultry, organ meats, fish, eggs, beans, and dairy products are all good sources of sulfur-containing amino acids.

Sulfur Need

Information On This Page
Signs and symptoms Contributing risk factors What else it can lead to Recommendations

Signs, symptoms & indicators of Sulfur Requirement:

Symptoms - Food - Preferences

Sugar/sweet craving may be a sign or symptom of Sulfur RequirementSugar/sweet craving
Afternoon coffee/sugar craving may be a sign or symptom of Sulfur RequirementAfternoon coffee/sugar craving
Craving coffee or tea can indicate a need for sulfur.

Risk factors for Sulfur Requirement:

Supplements and Medications

Pain medication use may increase risk of Sulfur RequirementPain medication use
Counter-indicators:
Using MSM often decreases risk of Sulfur RequirementUsing MSM

Symptoms - Food - Intake

Not eating eggs may increase risk of Sulfur RequirementNot eating eggs
Low garlic consumption may increase risk of Sulfur RequirementNot eating garlic or low garlic consumption
Counter-indicators:
(High) garlic consumption may decrease risk of Sulfur Requirement(High) garlic consumption
(Low/high) egg consumption may decrease risk of Sulfur Requirement(Low/high) egg consumption

Sulfur Requirement can lead to:

Nutrients

Sulfur Requirement sometimes leads to General Mineral RequirementGeneral Mineral Requirement

Recommendations for Sulfur Requirement:

Botanical

Garlic is highly recommended for Sulfur RequirementGarlic
Sulfur occurs naturally in garlic and onions and may be partially responsible for the health benefits associated with these foods.  [Augusti KT.  Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.).  Indian J Exp Biol 1996;34: pp.634-40]

Mineral

MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) is highly recommended for Sulfur RequirementMSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane)

KEY

Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of; sometimes leads to
Weak or unproven link:
may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of; sometimes leads to
Weakly counter-indicative: may decrease risk of
Weakly counter-indicative:
may decrease risk of
Strong counter-indication: often decreases risk of
Strong counter-indication:
often decreases risk of
Very useful: is highly recommended for
Very useful:
is highly recommended for
Last updated: Apr 25, 2013