Benefits of Sulphur

Sulphur, known as the letter "S" on the period table of elements, can be found in various foods and certain health supplements marketed for the treatment of ailments including arthritis, emphysema and osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Some doctors, however, believe the need for sulphur supplements may be somewhat exaggerated.

Two Types of Sulphur

• Sulphur occurs naturally in foods such as eggs, garlic, onions, dairy products, meat, fish, nuts and cabbage. Two types of sulphur are commonly used in health supplements: dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, and methylsulfonylmethane, also known as MSM. Both types of sulphur have different purported health benefits. In addition to health supplements, sulphur is also used as an ingredient in therapeutic mud baths to treat skin conditions such as eczema, warts and psoriasis.

MSM and Arthritis

• MSM sulphur supplements are often used to treat various types of arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. MSM supplements are also used to treat pain and stiffness in joints and can be applied topically to reduce pain and swelling. Studies on MSM's effectiveness at treating arthritis, however, have been limited. MSM appears to work more efficiently when combined with glucosamine and chondroitin, also supplements used to relieve pain and swelling associated with arthritis.

Reputed Health Benefits

• According to the Natural News website, supplements containing organic sulphur, which is derived from raw plant and animal foods, offer an array of additional health benefits related to the "detoxifying" effect at the body's cellular level. Among these benefits are increased resistance to flu viruses and other illnesses, increased tissue flexibility and better blood circulation. The website also claims organic sulphur can reduce wrinkles, alleviate emphysema and reverse osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Sulphur Supplements

• The Quackwatch website is devoted to analyzing products' health claims to determine whether any scientific evidence exists to substantiate claims. On the website, clinical dietitian Kerry Lang concludes: "No published research studies link MSM to any of the health claims made by its marketers. Sulfur needed in human metabolism comes from dietary protein. MSM supplements probably make little or no contribution to the body's sulfur requirements. Thus, there is no good reason to use MSM supplements."