Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesDeficiencySide EffectsPrecautionsDosageWhat Happens If I Take Too Much?InteractionsHow to StoreSources & What to Look ForFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Deficiency
Side Effects
Precautions
Dosage
What Happens If I Take Too Much?
Interactions
How to Store
Sources & What to Look For
Frequently Asked Questions
Sulfur is a mineral that plays an important role in human health, supporting major processes such as cell repair, metabolism, digestion, and growth. Widely available in protein-rich foods and as a supplement, sulfur is the body’s third most common mineral.
Although sulfur is important in medications such as antibiotics, research on sulfur supplementation forallergies,osteoarthritis, and variety of other conditions is conflicting.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
1:52Click Play to Learn About the Benefits of Sulfur
1:52
Click Play to Learn About the Benefits of Sulfur
What Is Sulfur Used For?
Sulfur plays an important role in the body. It is necessary for the production of key proteins and the building blocks of those proteins, which are known as amino acids. For example, sulfur is needed for the synthesis, or creation, of the amino acidscysteineandmethionine. These amino acids are part of a powerfulantioxidantknown asglutathione.
The body can’t make sulfur—but it’s common in food, so supplementation is rarely necessary. Research on sulfur supplementation’s effectiveness and safety is sparse and inconclusive, but it remains a frequent remedy in alternative and traditional medicine.
Supplement Facts
Joint and Muscle Pain
Sulfur is part of traditional medicine treatments around the world for a variety of ailments.
Methylsulfonylmethane
MSM, a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in many foods, may help those with osteoarthritis.
It is suggested that MSM supplements work as an anti-inflammatory to protectcartilage.For people with arthritis, the result may be less pain and a better range of motion in the joints. However, research in this area is limited and mixed.
A few studies have shown improvements in pain and physical function when supplementing with MSM. An early randomized pilot trial (a trial performed before a main trial that assigns people randomly to groups) gave 50 people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) either 3 grams of MSM twice daily or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Participants who received the MSM supplement reported improved pain symptoms and physical function. However, the benefit and safety of MSM for this use and its long-term effects can’t be confirmed.
An additional study found similar results. In that study, 49 people with knee OA received either a placebo or 1.125 grams of MSM three times daily for 12 weeks. The authors reported that the improvement in pain and physical function in the MSM group was small and the study did not determine if it was a clinically significant change.
Another study evaluated a supplement that contained MSM in combination with several other ingredients (glucosamine sulfate, white will bark extract, ginger root concentrate,Boswellia serrataextract, turmeric root extract, cayenne, and hyaluronic acid).
One hundred people with a history of joint pain were randomized to receive the supplement or placebo for eight weeks. While those who took the supplement reported reduced joint pain, there was no effect on inflammatory markers that detect relevant disease or an improvement on a six-minute walk test.
A separate meta-analysis (statistical analysis of data from independent studies)found that neither DMSO nor MSM was effective in reducing pain from OA.It should be noted that this meta-analysis was done in 2009 and did not include two of the studies mentioned earlier.
What Is an Antioxidant?Antioxidants are substances in your body that can prevent cell damage. They help defend you against various types of diseases and illnesses.
What Is an Antioxidant?
Antioxidants are substances in your body that can prevent cell damage. They help defend you against various types of diseases and illnesses.
Balneotherapy
The bottom line on balneotherapy: It can be used along with other treatments to reduce low-grade inflammation and stress-related pain or tightness. However, it is still recommended that you receive treatment from a healthcare provider to manage symptoms effectively.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Allergies
In a randomized, double-blind study (one in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment participants receive until the clinical trial is over), researchers showed that MSM significantly easedallergy symptoms.Taking 3 grams of MSM daily for two weeks helped those with allergies breathe better, and it reduced their nasal congestion. More research is needed.
Natural Allergy Remedies
Dandruff
Little research has been done since a small 1987 study of people with dandruff. That study indicated that people who used shampoo containing sulfur and salicylic acid reported reduced scaling and dandruff.Further studies would help to evaluate the effectiveness of sulfur for dandruff.
The 7 Best Dandruff Shampoos of 2022
Rosacea
Rosaceais a skin condition that looks like adult acne but is very different. It causes red, swollen areas on the face, red bumps, and an enlargement of the nose.
Rosacea Treatment Using Diet and Skin Care
Interstitial Cystitis
Additional Claims
Most other claims about sulfur do not have the research to support them. More research is needed to determine if sulfur helps with menopausal symptoms, strengthening nails, treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood), or fighting cancer.
Sulfur Deficiency
Very little is known about sulfur deficiency. This is most likely because healthy people typically get enough sulfur in their diets. Sulfur deficiencies are rare.
In some parts of the world, the soil may not contain sufficient amounts of sulfur, which can cause an inadequate intake. This is not a problem in the United States.
Theoretically, anyone who tends to consume less protein could risk inadequate sulfur intake. Because of this, vegetarians may be at a greater risk than people who eat meat. Vegetarians, older adults, and people who were health conscious or dieting all had lower consumptions of sulfur in their diet in one study.
What Are the Side Effects of Sulfur?
Not enough is known about oral sulfur supplements to be sure they’re safe. However, there are some reports that MSM and DMSO may cause certain side effects, such as:
Sulfur is possibly safe when used topically. In clinical studies lasting up to four weeks, participants have safely used products containing sulfur in concentrations of up to 10%.
The safety of oral sulfur supplementation in pregnant and breastfeeding people has not been studied and is unknown. Therefore, oral supplementation of sulfur is not recommended for this group.
If applied to the skin in pregnant or breastfeeding people, up to a 6% concentration for six days is possibly safe. The same applies to children.
It’s important to note that self-treating a condition with sulfur and delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Speak to your healthcare provider if you’re considering using a sulfur supplement for a medical condition.
Dosage: How Much Sulfur Should I Take?
There is no recommended daily allowance for sulfur. Most people consume enough sulfur in their diet to meet the body’s needs.
There is also no standard dose of sulfur supplements. Not enough is known about oral sulfur supplements to make such a recommendation. Typically doses range from 500 to 3,000 milligrams, with 2,000 milligrams the most common amount.
However, various topical doses have been used effectively and safely in research:
What Happens If I Take Too Much Sulfur?
Doses as high as 5,000 milligrams appear to be safe. There is very little information about sulfur toxicity from sulfur supplementation.
If you do take in too much sulfur, you may experience the side effects of abdominal discomfort, nausea, and diarrhea.
There are no known reports of interactions in people using sulfur and prescription medications. As always, it is best to ask ask your healthcare provider before supplementing.
How to Store Sulfur
MSM should be stored at room temperature. It should also be protected from light and moisture.
Since there are many formulations and manufacturers of MSM, it is important to follow the storage instructions on the product label.
Sources of Sulfur and What to Look For
Sulfur is available in the foods we eat and as dietary supplements. It is also added to creams, lotions, and shampoos.
Food Sources of Sulfur
Sulfur is present in foods that are good sources of protein such as:
Sulfur is also found in some vegetables including garlic, onions, brussels sprouts, asparagus, and kale.
Sulfur Supplements
See the above dosing recommendations for dosages in topical products and discuss with a healthcare provider if that dose will work for you.
Oral sulfur supplements are available online and sold in many natural-food stores and stores specializing in dietary supplements.
When looking for an oral sulfur supplement, you will see many MSM products. You may see sulfur supplements in capsule form or sold as crystals to be used in the bath. MSM is a naturally occurring organic compound that contains sulfur. It is also sometimes calleddimethyl sulfone,methyl sulfone,sulfonylbismethane, orcrystalline dimethyl sulfoxide. MSM is also referred to as organic sulfur.
When looking for supplements, be sure to read the label. Four questions to ask include:
Summary
There is a limited number of high-quality clinical trials related to sulfur supplements and topical treatments. In general, it seems safe to use creams and lotions to ease skin problems or joint pain. Dandruff shampoo, which contains sulfur, is also considered safe.
Whether or not DMSO and MSM oral supplements offer benefits is unclear, and they may cause some minor side effects. Discuss the pros and cons with your healthcare provider before you add anything to your regimen or spend money on unproven supplements.
Sulfur can be found naturally in foods such as dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, seafood, onions, garlic, turnips, kale, and broccoli.
Regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, practicing yoga or tai chi and/or undergoingacupuncturemay help manage and alleviate arthritis pain and enhance functioning in some people.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Human Nutrition: 2020 Edition. Sulfur. In:Human Nutrition.University of Hawaii at Manoa.Colovic MB, Vasic VM, Djuric DM, Krstic DZ.Sulphur-containing amino acids: Protective role against free radicals and heavy metals.Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2018; 25(3). doi:10.2174/0929867324666170609075434Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290. doi:10.3390/nu9030290Kim L, Axelrod L, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters R.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.OsteoArthritis and Cartilage. 2006;14:286-294. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003Debbi EM, Agar G, Fichman G, et al.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study.BMC Complement Altern Med.2011;11(1):50. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-50Nieman DC, Shanely RA, Luo B, et al.A commercialized dietary supplement alleviates joint pain in community adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial.Nutr J. 2013;12(1):154. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-154Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G.Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011:1-12. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep045Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, et al.Balneotherapy (or spa therapy) for rheumatoid arthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518.pub2Gálvez I, Torres-Piles S, Ortega-Rincón E.Balneotherapy, immune system, and stress response: A hormetic strategy?.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(6):1687. doi:10.3390/ijms19061687Hewlings S, Kalman DS.Evaluating the impacts of methylsulfonylmethane on allergic rhinitis after a standard allergen challenge: randomized double-blind exploratory study.JMIR Research Protocols. 2018;7(11):e11139. doi:10.2196%2F11139Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter monograph M032: Drug products for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis for over-the-counter human use (posted December 16, 2021).Leyden JJ, McGinley KJ, Mills OH, Kyriakopoulos AA, Kligman AM.Effects of sulfur and salicylic acid in a shampoo base in the treatment of dandruff: a double-blind study using corneocyte counts and clinical grading.Cutis. 1987;39(6):557-561.Draelos ZD.The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses.J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9(3):234-236.Clemens JQ.Patient education: Treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Nimni ME, Han B, Cordoba F.Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet?Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-24Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Woźniak A, Krzyżyńska-Malinowska E, et al.Comparative efficacy of topical pertmehrin, crotamiton and sulfur ointment in treatment of scabies.J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2017;11(1):1-9.Sharquie KE, Al-Rawi JR, Noaimi AA, Al-Hassany HM.Treatment of scabies using 8% and 10% topical sulfur ointment in different regimens of application.J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(3):357-364.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Human Nutrition: 2020 Edition. Sulfur. In:Human Nutrition.University of Hawaii at Manoa.Colovic MB, Vasic VM, Djuric DM, Krstic DZ.Sulphur-containing amino acids: Protective role against free radicals and heavy metals.Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2018; 25(3). doi:10.2174/0929867324666170609075434Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290. doi:10.3390/nu9030290Kim L, Axelrod L, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters R.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.OsteoArthritis and Cartilage. 2006;14:286-294. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003Debbi EM, Agar G, Fichman G, et al.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study.BMC Complement Altern Med.2011;11(1):50. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-50Nieman DC, Shanely RA, Luo B, et al.A commercialized dietary supplement alleviates joint pain in community adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial.Nutr J. 2013;12(1):154. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-154Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G.Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011:1-12. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep045Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, et al.Balneotherapy (or spa therapy) for rheumatoid arthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518.pub2Gálvez I, Torres-Piles S, Ortega-Rincón E.Balneotherapy, immune system, and stress response: A hormetic strategy?.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(6):1687. doi:10.3390/ijms19061687Hewlings S, Kalman DS.Evaluating the impacts of methylsulfonylmethane on allergic rhinitis after a standard allergen challenge: randomized double-blind exploratory study.JMIR Research Protocols. 2018;7(11):e11139. doi:10.2196%2F11139Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter monograph M032: Drug products for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis for over-the-counter human use (posted December 16, 2021).Leyden JJ, McGinley KJ, Mills OH, Kyriakopoulos AA, Kligman AM.Effects of sulfur and salicylic acid in a shampoo base in the treatment of dandruff: a double-blind study using corneocyte counts and clinical grading.Cutis. 1987;39(6):557-561.Draelos ZD.The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses.J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9(3):234-236.Clemens JQ.Patient education: Treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Nimni ME, Han B, Cordoba F.Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet?Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-24Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Woźniak A, Krzyżyńska-Malinowska E, et al.Comparative efficacy of topical pertmehrin, crotamiton and sulfur ointment in treatment of scabies.J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2017;11(1):1-9.Sharquie KE, Al-Rawi JR, Noaimi AA, Al-Hassany HM.Treatment of scabies using 8% and 10% topical sulfur ointment in different regimens of application.J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(3):357-364.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Human Nutrition: 2020 Edition. Sulfur. In:Human Nutrition.University of Hawaii at Manoa.Colovic MB, Vasic VM, Djuric DM, Krstic DZ.Sulphur-containing amino acids: Protective role against free radicals and heavy metals.Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2018; 25(3). doi:10.2174/0929867324666170609075434Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290. doi:10.3390/nu9030290Kim L, Axelrod L, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters R.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.OsteoArthritis and Cartilage. 2006;14:286-294. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003Debbi EM, Agar G, Fichman G, et al.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study.BMC Complement Altern Med.2011;11(1):50. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-50Nieman DC, Shanely RA, Luo B, et al.A commercialized dietary supplement alleviates joint pain in community adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial.Nutr J. 2013;12(1):154. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-154Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G.Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011:1-12. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep045Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, et al.Balneotherapy (or spa therapy) for rheumatoid arthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518.pub2Gálvez I, Torres-Piles S, Ortega-Rincón E.Balneotherapy, immune system, and stress response: A hormetic strategy?.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(6):1687. doi:10.3390/ijms19061687Hewlings S, Kalman DS.Evaluating the impacts of methylsulfonylmethane on allergic rhinitis after a standard allergen challenge: randomized double-blind exploratory study.JMIR Research Protocols. 2018;7(11):e11139. doi:10.2196%2F11139Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter monograph M032: Drug products for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis for over-the-counter human use (posted December 16, 2021).Leyden JJ, McGinley KJ, Mills OH, Kyriakopoulos AA, Kligman AM.Effects of sulfur and salicylic acid in a shampoo base in the treatment of dandruff: a double-blind study using corneocyte counts and clinical grading.Cutis. 1987;39(6):557-561.Draelos ZD.The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses.J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9(3):234-236.Clemens JQ.Patient education: Treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Nimni ME, Han B, Cordoba F.Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet?Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-24Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Woźniak A, Krzyżyńska-Malinowska E, et al.Comparative efficacy of topical pertmehrin, crotamiton and sulfur ointment in treatment of scabies.J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2017;11(1):1-9.Sharquie KE, Al-Rawi JR, Noaimi AA, Al-Hassany HM.Treatment of scabies using 8% and 10% topical sulfur ointment in different regimens of application.J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(3):357-364.
Human Nutrition: 2020 Edition. Sulfur. In:Human Nutrition.University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Colovic MB, Vasic VM, Djuric DM, Krstic DZ.Sulphur-containing amino acids: Protective role against free radicals and heavy metals.Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2018; 25(3). doi:10.2174/0929867324666170609075434
Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3):290. doi:10.3390/nu9030290
Kim L, Axelrod L, Howard P, Buratovich N, Waters R.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.OsteoArthritis and Cartilage. 2006;14:286-294. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003
Debbi EM, Agar G, Fichman G, et al.Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study.BMC Complement Altern Med.2011;11(1):50. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-50
Nieman DC, Shanely RA, Luo B, et al.A commercialized dietary supplement alleviates joint pain in community adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial.Nutr J. 2013;12(1):154. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-154
Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G.Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011:1-12. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep045
Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, et al.Balneotherapy (or spa therapy) for rheumatoid arthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518.pub2
Gálvez I, Torres-Piles S, Ortega-Rincón E.Balneotherapy, immune system, and stress response: A hormetic strategy?.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(6):1687. doi:10.3390/ijms19061687
Hewlings S, Kalman DS.Evaluating the impacts of methylsulfonylmethane on allergic rhinitis after a standard allergen challenge: randomized double-blind exploratory study.JMIR Research Protocols. 2018;7(11):e11139. doi:10.2196%2F11139
Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter monograph M032: Drug products for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis for over-the-counter human use (posted December 16, 2021).
Leyden JJ, McGinley KJ, Mills OH, Kyriakopoulos AA, Kligman AM.Effects of sulfur and salicylic acid in a shampoo base in the treatment of dandruff: a double-blind study using corneocyte counts and clinical grading.Cutis. 1987;39(6):557-561.
Draelos ZD.The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses.J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9(3):234-236.
Clemens JQ.Patient education: Treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
Nimni ME, Han B, Cordoba F.Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet?Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-24
Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Woźniak A, Krzyżyńska-Malinowska E, et al.Comparative efficacy of topical pertmehrin, crotamiton and sulfur ointment in treatment of scabies.J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2017;11(1):1-9.
Sharquie KE, Al-Rawi JR, Noaimi AA, Al-Hassany HM.Treatment of scabies using 8% and 10% topical sulfur ointment in different regimens of application.J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(3):357-364.
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