200 years ago most people died of communicable diseases, infections and accidents, or infections following accidents. Today, the number one cause of death is related to chronic inflammatory diseases. It seems that we carry the collective suspicion that something is missing from our diets or that we are all being slowly poisoned. Is this just a shared paranoia exploited by the $1.8 trillion dollar global pharmaceutical economy and $350 billion dollar neutraceutical and dietary supplement economy?
One of the key markers of inflammation in the body is elevated serum homocysyeine levels. Medicine is of the opinion that this is a "nonspecific" marker of inflammation with regard to not specifically associated with any one disease process. However, elevated homocysyeine is pointing exactly to the specific problem and etiology which is a chronic sulfate deficiency.
Sulfate is used by the body to regenerate glutathione, the master antioxidant. Sulfate is used by the liver to detoxify many xenobiotics. Sulfate is used by the folate cycle for DNA repair and to generate SAMe as a methyl donor in the production of neurotransmitters associated with anxiety and depression. Also, sulfate in large quantities is necessary in association with the solubility of all glucosaminoglycans which are cell signaling molecules that control and modulate inflammation and autoimmunity. In fact, this is how Aluminum Sulfate or Alum is used as a vaccine adjuvant by flocculant activity by locally stripping and precipitating sulfate from the local glucosaminoglycans of tissues in the site of vaccine injection that elicits a more robust immune response. As sulfate is low, research show the body will preferentially stop other sulfate pathways until glutathione is regenerated. Low sulfate saturation of glucosaminoglycans is associated with higher autoimmunity. Low cholesterol sulfate in the brain is associated with too stiff endoplasmic reticulum, and improper cleavage of amyloid precursor protein. The too stiff ER leads to improper protein post-translation modifications and secondary amyloid protein buildup. Glut4 receptor insertion and activity and insulin resistance in Type2 diabetes rely on cholesterol sulfate for clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
The severity of preclampsia in pregnancy is directly correlated to the degree of elevation of homocysyeine levels and total body inflammation and is remedied in part by flooding the patient with IV magnesium sulfate, managing magnesium toxicity, but benefiting from depleting total body sulfate levels. There is a similar correlation with severe asthma exacerbation which has a causal association with tylenol use which depletes total body sulfate and glutathione, and which IV magnesium sulfate is used as a therapeutic not only for smooth muscle relaxation but as repleting body sulfate levels and decreasing lung inflammation.
In the 80s there was a world-wide push against acid rain which involves.sulfate in rainwater. Agribusiness uses urea fertilizer instead of Ammonium Sulfate because urea is twice the nitrogen per pound. But lack of allowing fields to go fallow and scrubbing sulfur out of fossil fuels has led to a marked decrease in soil sulfate levels in the US and Europe and consequently low sulfate levels in crops such as corn and soy which are already contain sulfur poor protein to start. The USDA has no RDA for sulfur or sulfate assuming humans can convert enough cysteine and methionine anninoacids from protein sources. Bit this conversion is expensive requiring B12, B6, and methylfolate in the pathway. Most multivitamin contain cyanocobalamin and folic acid which both require methylation by SAMe for conversion to their active forms which could actually deplete SAMe instead of using active forms of these vitamins such as methylfolate and methylcobalamin which would not. In fact clinical trials in Europe involving folic acid were stopped due to neurotoxicity. I believe the rising rates of autism are due to inutero exposure to folic acid. There are numerous documented cases of autism being cured by treatment with IV DSMA which therapeutic mechanism is not metal chelation but repleting total sulfate levels in the brain in the same way DMSO bladder washes replete sulfate levels in the bladder for interstitial cystitis.
The most common food preservative is sodium benzoate used in soda and many condiments which is a direct inhibitor of d-amino acid oxidase which is a key enzyme in the sulfate pathway.
Also, acetaminophen exposure directly depletes glutathione via its toxic intermediate NAPQI and a double hit to sulfate levels by needing to be sulfate to be excreted by the kidney and eliminated by the body.
High rates to gluten sensitivity are due to the use of aluminum (alum) in baking powder (double acting), which in s similar mechanism of Alum as an adjuvant in vaccines depletes sulfate from glucosaminoglucans and triggers autoimmunity against glutan protein in wheat.
The correlation of autoimmune disease following viral illness may be linked to a protein or sulfate poor diet and toxic exposures to high levels of acetaminophen and sodium benzoate preservative containing soda like ginger ale and sprite which are a typical part of the oft recommended "clear liquid diet" during the period of illness. These toxic exposures deplete total body sulfate, and sulfation of GAGs leading to the random occurrence of autoimmune diseases like Guillain barre, MS, and Type 1 diabetes.
Many dairy products like yogurt contain large amounts of live cultured nitrogen- metabolizing bacteria which out-compete sulfur-metabolizing bacteria which can also suseptible to frequent exposures to antibiotics which sterilize the gut which then are mainly repopulated by nitrogen metabolizing bacteria or other acidophilis in yougurt which do not produce needed B vitamins needed in sulfur metabolism like bifidobacterium.
Vitamin D sulfate is necessary for micro biome health and maintainance of gut epithelial barrier function.
Historically suffers of rheumatic diseases visited and bathed in volcanic hot springs and received a degree of healing and or symptom relief. Myths like the fountain of youth or FDRs frequent visits to Warm Springs, GA. The high sulfate in the water, being ionic, does not absorrb through the skin. The reported benefits likely came from drinking the mineral water while at the springs more than bathing in it. This may be a link to such mineral waters and the existence of "Blue Zones". These areas tend to exist among hydrothermally active areas which likely affects area drinking water. This is likely the source of the traditional use of Epsom Salt in the bath.
Many of the health benefits of allium like onions, garlics, leeks, and shallots and cruciferous vegetables are because they contain significant amounts of sulfur containing thiosulfates and sulforaphanes. High quality proteins and grains are so-called precisely because of their higher cysteine and methionine content verses corn and soy protein which are poor in these sulfur-containing aminiloacids. Eating a healthy diet comes down to eating more of these sulfur containing natural sulfur sources and avoiding sulfur-poor processed junk.
These views are only on the edge of general acceptance and would benefit from better consensus. The key role of sulfur in health is the truth that the mainstream needs to accept, Unfortunately, the 1.8 trillion dollar pharmaceutical economy is a massive bias against this consensus.
Sunlight and Sulfur
In the dance of health, where life's flames burn bright, Sunlight and sulfur play roles of might. The sun's fiery kiss on skin so bare, Sparks the magic of D, a healthful affair. Brimstone, the ancient name for sulfur's allure, In veggies and proteins, its presence is pure. A mineral of might, in detox it shines, Supporting our bodies through intricate lines. Together they twirl, a duo so grand, Sunlight and sulfur, hand in hand. A balance of elements, nature's own script, For a life of wellness, perfectly equipped.
References:
Sulfate's role in biological processes:
1. Stipanuk, M. H., & Ueki, I. (2011). Dealing with methionine/homocysteine sulfur: cysteine metabolism to taurine and inorganic sulfur. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 34(1), 17-32.
2. Nimni, M. E., Han, B., & Cordoba, F. (2007). Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet? Nutrition & Metabolism, 4(1), 24.
Sulfate deficiency and chronic diseases:
3. Mitsuyoshi, H., et al. (2011). Analysis of the relations between oxidative stress and glutathione in liver diseases. Hepatology Research, 41(9), 841-849.
4. Rose, S., et al. (2012). Oxidative stress induces mitochondrial dysfunction in a subset of autism lymphoblastoid cell lines in a well-matched case control cohort. PloS one, 7(7), e39767.
Homocysteine as an inflammation marker:
5. Ganguly, P., & Alam, S. F. (2015). Role of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular disease. Nutrition Journal, 14(1), 6.
6. Stanger, O., et al. (2009). Clinical use and rational management of homocysteine, folic acid, and B vitamins in cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases. Zeitschrift für Kardiologie, 93(6), 439-453.
Environmental and agricultural changes affecting sulfur content:
7. Scherer, H. W. (2001). Sulphur in crop production—invited paper. European Journal of Agronomy, 14(2), 81-111.
8. Klikocka, H., et al. (2016). The Effect of Sulphur and Nitrogen Fertilization on Grain Yield and Technological Quality of Spring Wheat. Plant, Soil and Environment, 62(5), 230-236.
Impact of medications and additives on sulfate metabolism:
9. James, L. P., et al. (2003). Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 31(12), 1499-1506.
10. Lenoir-Wijnkoop, I., et al. (2015). Nutrition economics–food as an ally of public health. British Journal of Nutrition, 114(9), 1413-1420.
Historical practices and sulfur benefits:
11. Carbajo, J. M., & Maraver, F. (2017). Sulphurous mineral waters: new applications for health. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017.
Interplay between sulfur metabolism and other nutrients:
12. Parcell, S. (2002). Sulfur in human nutrition and applications in medicine. Alternative Medicine Review, 7(1), 22-44.
13. Mora, J. R., Iwata, M., & von Andrian, U. H. (2008). Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nature Reviews Immunology, 8(9), 685-698.
Sulfur's role in detoxification and antioxidant defenses:
14. Frye, R. E., & Benavides, S. (2019). Sulfur and its role in human health. Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 3(2), 153-162.
15. Rayman, M. P. (2019). Sulfur in human nutrition and health. British Journal of Nutrition, 121(1), 1-12.
The association between sulfur deficiency and various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders:
16. Sinha, R., et al. (2019). Sulfur compounds in cancer prevention. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 56, 135-146.
17. Yamaguchi, M., et al. (2019). Sulfur-containing amino acids in neurological disorders. Amino Acids, 51(1), 141-154.
The impact of modern agriculture and food processing on sulfur content in crops and foods:
18. Johnston, A. E., & Syers, J. K. (2018). Sulfur in soils and crops. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 82(2), 267-277.
19. Zhao, X., et al. (2019). Sulfur fertilization affects sulfur content in crops: A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 284, 105934.
The benefits of sulfur-rich foods, such as garlic and cruciferous vegetables, in promoting health and preventing disease:
20. Boreddy, S. R., et al. (2019). Garlic and its active compounds: A review of their pharmacology and therapeutic uses. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 231, 141-152.
21. Zhang, Y., et al. (2019). Sulforaphane: A review of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Food & Function, 10(2), 251-261.
