Serves Me Right to Sulfur 

Vitamin and mineral supplements rarely list it as an ingredient, but sulfur is one of the body's most abundant minerals, and is found in every cell. Sulfur is a component of insulin and three essential amino acids—cysteine, methionine and taurine. It also plays a role in cholesterol synthesis, fibrinogen formation (blood clotting), and is needed for the function of coenzyme A, the active form of vitamin B5. Sulfur is used in the conversion of the amino acid glutamine to glucosamine, which is a component of all connective tissues. 

Many people may be getting inadequate amounts of sulfur in their diets. Commercial farming depletes the soil of minerals, including sulfur, and refining and processing further reduces the sulfur content of foods. 

An enhanced form of organic sulfur, methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM), is gaining popularity as a nutritional supplement. It is a crystalline salt that dissolves in water, and its proponents claim that it is completely nontoxic. (A similar substance, dimethyl sulphoxide, known as DSMO, is a less stable form of sulfur that is also used as a healing agent.) 

Stanley Jacobs, M.D., of the Department of Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, has studied the actions of MSM for 20 years, and used it in the treatment of some 12,000 patients. Because sulfur plays a role in so many of the body's functions, Dr. Jacobs considers MSM a "foundation" nutrient. If there is a deficiency somewhere, MSM can be used to give the body the raw material it needs to recover proper functioning. 

Research suggests that MSM may be helpful for inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and cancers of the colon and breast. For example, one study with rats found that oral MSM could significantly delay the onset of artificially induced cancer in animals. Dr. Jacobs has used MSM successfully to treat a variety of ailments, such as acne, allergies, constipation, gum disease, over-acid stomach and parasites. He recommends three 400-milligram tablets daily as a typical maintenance dosage, but suggests that people consult their health care practitioner for an individualized program. 

Dietary sources of MSM include milk, eggs, garlic, onions, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beans, seafoods and red meats. Cooking, especially microwaving, is said to reduce MSM content.  Based on information in: Alternative Medicine Digest, #24 1998