Rich: Sulfur sensitivities?

[Guest guest]

> > Rich Please respond to this statement:

> >

> > The second pathway to lower homocysteine involves

converting it

> into

> > cysteine (an very important amino acid), which then through a

> cascade

> > of chemistry becomes glutathione.

> >

> >

> > http://www.y2khealthanddetox.com/truthchol.html

[Guest guest]

Hi, Dan.

Here's a pretty good abstract about sulfite sensitivity from

PubMed. You're right, inability to process sulfur to sulfate

presents big problems for people who have it, because sulfur-

containing amino acids (methionine and to some extent cysteine) are

essential nutrients.

J Am Coll Nutr. 1995 Jun;14(3):229-32.

Sulfite sensitivity: significance in human health.

Lester MR.

Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Boston,

Massachusetts, USA.

Endogenous sulfite is generated as a consequence of the body's

normal processing of sulfur-containing amino acids. Sulfites occur

as a consequence of fermentation and also occur naturally in a

number of foods and beverages. As food additives, sulfiting agents

were first used in 1664 and approved in the United States as long

ago as the 1800s. With such long experience with their use, it is

easy to understand why these substances have been regarded as safe.

They are currently used for a variety of preservative properties,

including controlling microbial growth, preventing browning and

spoilage, and bleaching some foods. It is estimated that up to

500,000 (< .05% of the population) sulfite-sensitive individuals

live in the United States. Sulfite sensitivity occurs most often in

asthmatic adults--predominantly women; it is uncommonly reported in

preschool children. Adverse reactions to sulfites in nonasthmatics

are extremely rare. Asthmatics who are steroid-dependent or who have

a higher degree of airway hyperreactivity may be at greater risk of

experiencing a reaction to sulfite-containing foods. Even within

this limited population, sulfite sensitivity reactions vary widely,

ranging from no reaction to severe. The majority of reactions are

mild. These manifestations may include dermatologic, respiratory, or

gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Severe nonspecific signs and

symptoms occur less commonly. Broncho-constriction is the most

common sensitivity response in asthmatics. The precise mechanisms of

the sensitivity responses have not been completely elucidated.

Inhalation of sulfur dioxide (SO2) generated in the stomach

following ingestion of sulfite-containing foods or beverages, a

deficiency in a mitochondrial enzyme, and an IgE-mediated immune

response have all been implicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID: 8586770 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Rich

>

> Some people also have the pathway

> to sulfate inhibited at the enzyme sulfite oxidase, sometimes

> because of a molybdenum deficiency. This causes them to be

> sensitive to essentially all foods or supplements containing

> sulfur,

> because sulfite builds up and produces symptoms.

>

> Hi Rich,

>

> How do these symptoms manifest themselves? Curious,

> because sulfur seems to be in almost everything, especially

> meat and dairy...