What and What are they
Sulfur amino acids are characterized by the presence of a sulfur atom in their structure.
Functions
Methionine, cysteine, cystine, homocysteine and taurine are common examples of sulfur amino acids, but only the first two participate in protein synthesis (methionine, moreover, is an essential amino acid).
Sulfur amino acids are also important for the synthesis of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant which, coincidentally, is not integrated directly, but by "taking N-acetyl-cysteine. The latter" can also be converted into taurine, an amino acid essential for felines but also important for humans, given its presence in high concentrations in various tissues.
Taurine is part of important biological reactions, such as the synthesis of bile salts and the maintenance of cellular hydrosaline homeostasis; it also performs a cardioprotective, detoxifying, immunoregulatory and antioxidant action.
Sulfur amino acids are also important for sulfation or sulfation reactions, which take place in the liver to make toxic molecules of endogenous and exogenous origin soluble, therefore eliminable in the urine.
Sulfur amino acids are particularly concentrated in the hair, where they contribute to their structure and hairstyle, and in the nails.
Food sources
The richest natural sources of sulfur amino acids are egg white, fish and poultry; among the vegetable sources we remember spirulina algae, broccoli, legumes (where they generally represent the limiting amino acids ... hence the importance of combining them with cereals), sesame and pumpkin seeds.
Risks from Excess
An excess of sulfur amino acids, accompanied by a very low carbohydrate intake, typical of ketogenic diets, can favor the mobilization of calcium from the bones.
An excess of cysteine, combined with a deficiency of folic acid and betaine (diet rich in meat and dairy products, but low in fresh fruit and vegetables), increases blood levels of homocysteine, significantly increasing the subject's cardiovascular risk.
