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Selenium & Sulfur: Both elements share left / right-sided cell receptors and are essential to human
health. Selenium (Se) supplements have been readily available for many years, however up until the
mid 90's, sulfur (S) requirements had to be met mostly through dietary sources, primarily eggs, onions
and garlic. This created problems for people with below-normal sulfur (or sulphur) levels who couldn't
tolerate these foods.
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With MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) entering the market, it immediately became so much easier to deal
with medical conditions requiring larger amounts of sulfur as part of their treatment. Both selenium and
sulfur bind to a number of heavy, or toxic metals, with selenium being protective against cadmium, lead,
mercury, and arsenic, while sulfur (being to a lesser degree protective of the same), is also helpful to
lower aluminum (or aluminium) levels.
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Sulfur interferes with the storage of copper, an essential trace element, however copper levels tend to
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be on the high side with many people, so this is generally a positive effect. It is interesting that patients
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with normal or below-normal copper levels rarely exhibit below-normal sulfur levels. In fact, the benefits
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of sulfur-containing supplements (Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM) on some forms of arthritis are not just a
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result of their positive effect on cartilage regeneration, but they are largely based on lowering elevated
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copper levels, which promote joint degeneration, particularly - or more so - on the right side of the body.
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Of course, on those rare occasions when copper is actually deficient, sulfur-containing supplements
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- just like larger amounts of Vitamin C - should not be used, as they could trigger, or worsen existing
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inflammatory conditions. In addition, individuals with a tendency for blood sugar disorders (diabetes)
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should be aware of possible negative consequences on blood sugar management when supplementing
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Glucosamine Sulfate.
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Possible adverse effects of consuming higher amounts of sulfur-containing foods or supplements such
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as Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM, Methionine, Taurine, Cysteine / Cystine... include diarrhea, flatulence,
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or bloating, while a very small number of patients have complained of a "stomach burning" sensation.
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With sulfur being a calcium and potassium antagonist, high supplemental intake of Glucosamine Sulfate
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or MSM may worsen low calcium-related disorders such as insomnia, fatigue, anxieties, or bone loss,
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and they may worsen low potassium-related cardiac, or renal / genitourinary conditions. Patients who
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are prescribed potassium supplements (Slow K, K-Lyte...) should be aware that their potassium intake
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will have to be adjusted (increased), depending on their MSM and Glucosamine Sulfate intake.
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Various placebo-controlled studies have shown that 50-60% of test subjects had a positive response
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to a variety of joint / musculoskeletal types of injuries or arthritis as a result of supplementing sulfur from
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MSM sources. Equally impressive were placebo-controlled trials that showed significant improvement
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in hair growth, brilliance and thickness of hair fibers, as well as an overall improvement effect of 80% in
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regard to nail health, strength, thickness, and appearance.
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Other studies showed sulfur to be effective for faster wound healing, parasitic infections, reduced
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severity of sun burns, reduced allergic reactions, improved lung functions, including asthma, interstitial
cystitis, and along with Vitamin C, sulfur helps to maintain elasticity and suppleness of the skin.
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All body cells contain sulfur-containing compounds. Those of primary importance in nutrition include
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Methionine, Cysteine, Homocysteine, Taurine, Chondroitin, Heparin, Fibrinogen, Thiamine, Biotin,
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Lipoic acid, Coenzyme A, Glutathione, and inorganic sulfate.
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A most important function of sulfur is its role in carbohydrate metabolism, where sulfur is a component
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of insulin, the hormone secreted by the pancreas essential for carbohydrate metabolism. Low sulfur
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can result in low insulin production, so adequate amounts of sulfur in the diet can help with diabetes.
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However, there are some medical disorders that present with above-normal levels of cellular sulfur
and/or selenium, in which case food or supplemental sources of sulfur or selenium should be reduced.
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Crohn's disease, a debilitating, chronic, and inflammatory disease of the gut is one condition where
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all sulfur (and sometimes selenium) sources should be kept to a minimum. In addition, diets should be
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kept as bland as possible to keep any flare-ups of Crohn's at bay, and rather than following general
"wholesome" dietary recommendations, meals should be more processed and refined, with special
emphasis on avoiding whole-grain products. This includes husks of corn / popcorn, wild rice, fiber-rich
foods, skins of fruit, nuts, seeds, most raw vegetables and greens, lettuce, and particularly beans.
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Lou Gehrig's disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is another disorder that presents with
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above-normal sulfur and selenium levels, which also requires avoidance of sulfur and selenium-rich
supplements and/or foods, particularly the big three - eggs, onions, and garlic, although it should be
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emphasized that dietary sources are not the cause of Lou Gehrig's disease, but excessive storage of
cellular sulfur and selenium. Nutritional factors that inhibit sulfur and selenium activity are listed further
below under "Antagonists / Inhibitors."
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In contrast, some rare forms of ALS or Parkinson's-like diseases are attributable to mercury poisoning,
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in which case selenium supplementation can be a consideration for its mercury-lowering effect.
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Alzheimer's disease - like Lou Gehrig's disease - is affected by sulfur (and selenium) intake as well,
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however, corresponding to the progression of the disease, sulfur levels become proportionally deficient
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to a point of no longer being measurable with terminal cases. So with Alzheimer's disease, the exact
opposite dietary recommendations to ALS apply, where sulfur-rich foods (eggs, onions, garlic) and
sulfur-containing supplements (MSM, methionine, taurine, cysteine / cystine) are very much indicated.
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(see also Acu-Cell Disorders "ALS / Lou Gehrig's Disease" and "Alzheimer's Disease").
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Excessive copper - just like excessive calcium - becomes bio-unavailable, and as such may trigger
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similar medical conditions at high levels as it does at low levels, whereby a number of co-factors are
required to help with its metabolism. Sulfur, Vitamin C, chromium and molybdenum are all co-factors
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which all help normalize copper levels, and consequently help with related physical problems such as
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spinal / joint degeneration, or mental / emotional problems such as moodiness, "foggy" mind, memory
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problems, confusion, ADD/ADHD, (see also Acu-Cell Disorders "ADD/ADHD"), and - as mentioned
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above - more serious degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Selenium supplementation is an effective way to reduce excessive mercury levels. I have monitored
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on a number of occasions a sharp drop in selenium levels when dental amalgams were removed, and
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where subsequently Se slowly returned to previous levels again over a three to four week time period.
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When people have no heavy or toxic metal concentrations in their body (that bind to selenium), most
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of the time there are no negative symptoms when taking about 200mcg per day of selenium, however
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when selenium is very low when first supplemented (perhaps due to toxic / heavy metal storage), and
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larger amounts are taken, adverse effects are very commonly experienced the first few weeks due to
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the heavy or toxic metals being eliminated by the body. In that case, I always urge my patients to slowly
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increase their selenium dose from as low as 25mcg per day (or even lower), up to eventually the full
dose, which generally is around 100mcg or sometimes higher, depending on circumstances.
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Organic forms of selenium (selenium yeast and selenomethionine, or selenocysteine) are always
preferable to inorganic forms such as sodium selenite because of their better absorption and lower
toxicity, even when ingested at much high amounts. In contrast, due to its free-radical promoting
oxidative nature, inorganic selenium is mutagenic and has caused cataracts at high doses in animal
studies, while organic selenium is less toxic, and does not have mutagenic or oxidizing activity.
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Deficiency of selenium leads to lowered glutathione peroxidase activity (cardiovascular disease) and
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it is implicated with a higher risk for cancer of the liver (particularly from hepatitis B), lungs, breast, skin,
colon, rectum and prostate.
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It is still not clear whether the lowered risk of developing certain cancers from taking about 200mcg of
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selenium per day also applies to individuals who previously exhibited normal levels of selenium, or only
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to those with lower levels before supplementing that amount.
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Although selenium and Vitamin E work together synergistically in that they carry out antioxidant and
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immunostimulating functions, they compete with each other on a biochemical level, where increasing
the one requires an increase of the other, otherwise ratio problems occur. The same effect happens
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to Vitamin E when higher amounts of Vitamin C are supplemented, despite both being antioxidants.
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Although there are reports that Vitamin C inhibits selenium absorption by inactivating it in the stomach
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or small intestine, this is not supported by my own findings or those of most other researchers. In fact,
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Vitamin C supports selenium uptake by preventing the inhibitory action of zinc on selenium (making
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Vitamin C synergistic to selenium instead), particularly when organic forms are used.
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On a similar note, while sulfur and molybdenum compete for uptake in plants, supplementing either
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one in humans helps uptake of the other by inhibiting copper, which is an antagonist to sulfur and
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molybdenum, so for practical purposes (and confirmed in thousands of clinical applications), they work
as synergists with one another. There is an identical relationship between vanadium and selenium
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against chromium, resulting in the same synergism.
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Some people - because of media hype (more is better) - take several hundred mcg of selenium a day,
but I usually advise my own patients against higher amounts - not so much because of selenium toxicity
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(although that does become a concern at higher amounts), but because of its antagonism to chromium,
zinc, magnesium, and other nutritional factors. Long-term excessive intake of selenium increases the
potential risk of triggering shingles, or developing trabecular osteoporosis, an enlarged prostate,
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reduced glucose tolerance, cystadenoma (usually in the throat), neurological disturbances, or other
negative consequences.
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Many people get away with mega-supplementation because they take a lot of everything, so one half
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of what they are taking cancels out the other half. It is when people start to overdose on single items
(which they don't actually need), over longer periods of time, that they frequently run into trouble. ¤
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Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) is the latest term replacing daily dietary reference values such as
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Adequate Intake (AI), Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), Estimated Average Requirements (EAR),
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Nutrient Reference Value (NRV), and Recommended Dietary Allowance / Intake (RDA / RDI).
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Selenium: Sulfur / Sulphur:
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DRI (RDA):DRI (RDA):none
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0-6 months10mcg
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6-12 months15mcg
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1-10 years20mcg-30mcg
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11-18 years40mcg-60mcg
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18 years +70mcg18 years + (suggested)800mg - 1,000mg
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pregnant / lactating+ 5mcg
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Therapeutic Range:100mcg - 2mg+Therapeutic Range:500mg - 5g+
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Cellular / Intracellular Attributes and Interactions:
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Selenium Synergists:Sulfur Synergists:
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Phosphorus, vanadium,* Vitamin C,* [sulfur],Sodium, molybdenum,* selenium, Vitamin B12,
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Selenium Antagonists / Inhibitors:Sulfur Antagonists / Inhibitors:
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Chromium, zinc, magnesium, Vitamin E,* [sulfur],Copper, potassium, calcium, Vitamin B15,
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[toxic metals - arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium...],[toxic metals - aluminum, mercury, cadmium...],
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* see text above on the synergism / antagonism between Selenium + Vitamin E, Sulfur + Molybdenum,
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and others.
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Low Levels / Deficiency - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
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Selenium:Sulfur:
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Cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular disease, stroke,Alzheimer's disease, nerve degeneration,
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nerve degeneration, higher risk for some cancers,memory loss, arthritis / cartilage degeneration,
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hypothyroidism (T3), arthritis, anemia,lupus, scleroderma, reduced insulin production,
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collagen diseases affecting hair, skin, nails,
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High levels / Overdose / Toxicity / Negative Side Effects - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
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Selenium (mostly inorganic forms):Sulfur:
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Nerve degeneration, osteoporosis, cystadenoma,Crohn's disease, nerve degeneration, ALS /
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ALS / Lou Gehrig's disease, shingles, loss of hair,Lou Gehrig's disease, asthma from sulfites,
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abnormal nails, tooth decay, garlic breath, death,inflammatory vascular / joint degeneration,
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Selenium Sources:Sulfur Sources:
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Eggs, onions, garlic, brazil nuts, seafood / shellfish,Egg yolk, onions, garlic, dairy, wheat germ,
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brewer's yeast, whole grains, wheat germ,meats, fish, legumes, cabbage, nuts. ¤
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General recommendations for nutritional supplementation: To avoid stomach problems and promote
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better tolerance, supplements should always be taken earlier, or in the middle of a larger meal. When
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taken on an empty stomach or after a meal, there is a greater risk of some tablets causing irritation, or
eventually erosion of the esophageal sphincter, resulting in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
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It is also advisable not to lie down immediately after taking any pills.
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When taking a very large daily amount of a single nutrient, it is better to split it up into smaller doses to
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not interfere with the absorption of other nutrients in food, or nutrients supplemented at lower amounts.
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2000-2009 Ronald RothAcu-Cell Nutrition: Sulfur / Sulphur & Selenium
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