A Comparison of the Utilization of Organic and Inorganic Sulfur by the Rat

Abstract

This investigation compared the utilization of neutral and inorganic sulfur for the sulfation of cartilage mucopolysaccharides. Adult, female rats were fed experimental diets containing inorganic sulfur at 3 levels: 0.0002, 0.10 and 0.42% and total sulfur at constant levels for 17 days. During the last 10 days radioactive sulfur as sulfate or methionine was introduced into the diet and the incorporation into feces, blood and cartilage mucopolysaccharides was determined. The data presented show that with a normal diet inorganic sulfur contributes as much to the metabolic sulfate pool as does neutral sulfur. The data also indicate that the availability of SO⁴ = is related to the ratio of neutral to inorganic sulfur in the diet and that the intestinal absorption of methionine may be related to the inorganic sulfur level of the diet. This evidence suggested that there is a need for inorganic sulfur in the diet to prevent an increase in the sulfur amino acid requirement above that normally stated.