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SULFUR IN THE HUMAN BODY
This is another rabbit hole I've fallen into these past few months, I hope I can shed some light on this wonderful mineral, and show that it's actually one of the body's most fascinating nutrients
THREAD //
This is another rabbit hole I've fallen into these past few months, I hope I can shed some light on this wonderful mineral, and show that it's actually one of the body's most fascinating nutrients
THREAD //
Sulfur is a non-metallic mineral that borders selenium, phosphorus, and oxygen on the periodic table
It is actually the eighth most abundant mineral in the body, and while it isn't discussed as often as it deserves, it has many essential functions
It is actually the eighth most abundant mineral in the body, and while it isn't discussed as often as it deserves, it has many essential functions
First I want to point out the primary forms sulfur appears in in the body, the first is what's called a sulfhydrl (aka thiol) group, composed of one hydrogen bonded with one sulfur
One or more of these work as attachment for larger compounds
One or more of these work as attachment for larger compounds
The second is an ion called sulfate, which is composed of one sulfur and four oxygens, both if these groups have a negative charge
Sulfur is most often in one of these two forms, or acting as a component of a larger molecule like an amino acid
Sulfur is most often in one of these two forms, or acting as a component of a larger molecule like an amino acid
Now I want to go over what got me interested in sulfur in the first place, Stephanie Seneff's work on cholesterol sulfate
Essentially she suggests that the formation of cholesterol sulfate is necessary for proper blood flow to occur
Essentially she suggests that the formation of cholesterol sulfate is necessary for proper blood flow to occur
When it is exposed to sunlight, cholesterol binds readily to sulfate
Cholesterol sulfate is mostly used to transport sulfate ions along the exterior of red blood cells, since sulfates are negative this surrounds blood cells with negative charge
Cholesterol sulfate is mostly used to transport sulfate ions along the exterior of red blood cells, since sulfates are negative this surrounds blood cells with negative charge
The lining of all blood vessels is covered with long polysaccharide chains called GAGs, which are packed with even more sulfate groups
So both the walls of blood vessels and blood cells themselves are negatively charged, the like charges repel each other preventing clotting
So both the walls of blood vessels and blood cells themselves are negatively charged, the like charges repel each other preventing clotting
This effect is potentiated further by the fact that GAGs are hydrophilic, so they cause the water they touch to structure and pool even more negative charge
This helps keep protons flowing as well, detoxing excess positive charge, as cells need a negative environment to function
This helps keep protons flowing as well, detoxing excess positive charge, as cells need a negative environment to function
The combined movement of these charged particles generates a magnetic field, which may act as a propulsion system, while actually widening blood vessels by triggering nitric oxide release
This is one of Seneff's diagrams if you're having trouble visualizing all this
This is one of Seneff's diagrams if you're having trouble visualizing all this
Beyond that, sulfate-filled GAGs have some other functions as well, namely that they are some of the biggest components of keratin (necessary for skin health), collagen, and connective tissue
Many of the health benefits of bone broth are a result of its rich GAG content
Many of the health benefits of bone broth are a result of its rich GAG content
Sulfur has the interesting property of reflecting the specific wavelengths of light that damage mitochondrial function
The high sulfur content of keratin in the skin might actually be a natural adaptation to protect cells from light, similar to the function of melanin
The high sulfur content of keratin in the skin might actually be a natural adaptation to protect cells from light, similar to the function of melanin
Sulfate is also a primary cofactor for a detox process called conjugation
Essentially, one of the final steps in the liver's detox process is binding the toxin it wants to remove to another molecule, making it less toxic and more soluble
Essentially, one of the final steps in the liver's detox process is binding the toxin it wants to remove to another molecule, making it less toxic and more soluble
The conjugation process utilizes everything from antioxidants to amino acids, but one of the most frequently used binder is actually sulfate
It is especially important in driving detox of oxalate (a common dietary plant toxin), as well as pesticides and xenoestrogens
It is especially important in driving detox of oxalate (a common dietary plant toxin), as well as pesticides and xenoestrogens
Now I want to take a slight detour into the body's antioxidant system
Arguably the most important compound in this system is glutathione, if you observe it's structure you'll notice it has a sulfhydryl group, this is actually what it uses to bind to toxins and heavy metals!
Arguably the most important compound in this system is glutathione, if you observe it's structure you'll notice it has a sulfhydryl group, this is actually what it uses to bind to toxins and heavy metals!
Glutathione is the body's most flexible antioxidant, it switches back and forth between two forms allowing it to detoxify threats near instantly
The nutrient cofactors necessary for this process are selenium, riboflavin, and thiamine
The nutrient cofactors necessary for this process are selenium, riboflavin, and thiamine
Glutathione works quickly, but the real heavy lifting is done by much larger protein, metallothionein
If you observe the chemical structure of metallothionein, it actually contains more than two dozen sulfhydryl groups, this gives it massive detoxification power!
If you observe the chemical structure of metallothionein, it actually contains more than two dozen sulfhydryl groups, this gives it massive detoxification power!
Metallothionein cannot function without zinc, which acts as a placeholder that supports its structure, when it encounters heavy metals or various other toxins the zinc atoms are swapped out
It is the first line of defense, pooling along barriers like the gut lining or BBB
It is the first line of defense, pooling along barriers like the gut lining or BBB
Both these and other antioxidant proteins are synthesized from the two sulfur containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine (with others like glycine added too)
NAC is a bioavailable form of cysteine that increases both, and methionine is found mostly in animal products
NAC is a bioavailable form of cysteine that increases both, and methionine is found mostly in animal products
The last thing I want to discuss is still being characterized fully, but I think it will become a core part of how we understand disease in the future
That is, iron-sulfur clusters in the mitochondria
That is, iron-sulfur clusters in the mitochondria
Fe-S clusters are actually a core part of mitochondrial function only recently discovered in mammals, they serve as cofactors for the production of energy
Free iron has been found to be extremely damaging to mitochondria, so I think they may also be a way to get rid of free iron
Free iron has been found to be extremely damaging to mitochondria, so I think they may also be a way to get rid of free iron
The biggest block on Fe-S cluster formation is excess of oxidative waste, essentially lack of negative charge in the cell
This increase in free iron can result in everything from cell death to sunburns, antioxidants like vitamin C or CoQ10 work as sunscreen for this reason
This increase in free iron can result in everything from cell death to sunburns, antioxidants like vitamin C or CoQ10 work as sunscreen for this reason
Once again melatonin is hugely important here as the mitochondria's master antioxidant, sunlight increases the negative charge in the cell, preventing excess levels of free iron or sulfur
Both are toxic on their own, but bound together they're necessary
Both are toxic on their own, but bound together they're necessary
The best sources of dietary sulfur are:
- Meat
- Eggs
- Seafood
- Garlic (!!!)
- Onions
- Broccoli (or other cruciferous vegetables)
One of the best ways to supplement sulfur is by eating at least 1 clove of garlic per day, though a diet high in animal products works well too
- Meat
- Eggs
- Seafood
- Garlic (!!!)
- Onions
- Broccoli (or other cruciferous vegetables)
One of the best ways to supplement sulfur is by eating at least 1 clove of garlic per day, though a diet high in animal products works well too
Sulfur can also be added to the body in the form of organic sulfur supplements, usually either in the form MSM or DMSO
They work well as sulfur donors, and while I haven't used them myself, I've heard positive results from others
They work well as sulfur donors, and while I haven't used them myself, I've heard positive results from others
NOTE: there are actually two issues that can cause negative effects from sulfur, the first is molybdenum deficiency
Molybdenum is a trace mineral with few minor functions in the body, the most important of these is conversion of sulfite (toxic) into sulfate (essential)
Molybdenum is a trace mineral with few minor functions in the body, the most important of these is conversion of sulfite (toxic) into sulfate (essential)
Molybdenum deficiency is very uncommon, but if you notice abnormal reaction to sulfur you can try supplementing
Be aware molybdenum is toxic in excess, the upper limit is 2mgs per day so you want to supplement far less than that to be safe
Be aware molybdenum is toxic in excess, the upper limit is 2mgs per day so you want to supplement far less than that to be safe
The far more common issue with sulfur is having of poor sulfur metabolism genes, namely CBS and SOUX
CBS is actually one of two primary genes associated with autism, if you know you have either gene issue this website is a good resource to manage them
http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm#CBS
CBS is actually one of two primary genes associated with autism, if you know you have either gene issue this website is a good resource to manage them
http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm#CBS
The functions of sulfur in the body are practically endless, but that's all I can cover today, I plan to do a separate thread covering the detox section in greater depth, conjugation and metallothionein especially
I hope I've managed to convince you that sulfur is actually one of the most essential minerals in the body
As always thanks for reading, and if you have any further questions feel free to reply to this or message me
As always thanks for reading, and if you have any further questions feel free to reply to this or message me
