A STUDY OF SULFUR METABOLISM AND THE EFFECT OF SULFUR ADMINISTRATION IN CHRONIC ARTHRITIS 1

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Abstract
Patients with typical rheumatoid arthritis were fed the same constant, relatively low S diet and distilled water. After adjustment to this regime 24-hr. collections of urine were analyzed for N, total S and all partitions of S. Large amts. of colloidal sulfur were then administered intravenously, intramuscularly and orally, and Na thiosulfate (in one case Na sulfate) was given orally. To test the detoxication of indole-like substances, thymol was administered orally, with and without S. Normal persons on the same diets showed no important difference in the amt. or manner of S elimination as compared with the arthritics. When colloidal S was injected intraven. or intramuscularly the S excretion exceeded the amt. injected, thus actually creating a deficiency of S. Injected S was eliminated chiefly as inorganic sulfate; there was no important increase in the conjugation of S with toxic substances. S given orally in colloidal form and as Na thiosulfate also failed to increase conjugation. Thymol was as readily conjugated by arthritics as by the controls. Analysis of finger-nails showed no changes in the cystine content after sulfur medication. No evidence of S deficiency or abnormality in S metabolism was found to exist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and no biochemical or metabolic indication of need for, or benefit from, S medication in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is evident.

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