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Silicon and diet
Silicon is the most common mineral on earth! What role does this “forgotten” trace element play in the diet of human beings?

Dr Henk-Maarten Laane, MD, PhD

Introduction

Silicon (“pebble stone”) forms about 28% of the total earth crust and is, after oxygen, the most common atom on earth. In nature silicon doesn’t occur as a free atom. Silicon can be found e.g. in the form of sand, pebble, rock, quartz, granite and clay. Silicon compounds are generally found as silicates (SiO2 and derivates), silicides (silicon compounds with carbon), silanoles (compounds of silicon with hydrogen), silicons (polymers of silicon with oxygen), etc.
Until the seventies silicon was not considered to be essential for the metabolism of humans; only ‘low’ concentrations of silicon were found in human tissue. Today we know that silicon is important for a good health; silicon is an essential trace element for humans! The human body contains 7 grams of silicon, far more than other essential trace elements like manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cupper (Cu) or sink (Zn). Silicon is found in high concentrations in connective tissues like cartilage and bone and also in hair and nails.

Silicon in skin, hair and nails

The first signs of a silicon deficiency are mostly found in the skin, hair and nails. Skin and hair loose their strength and elasticity; nails become crumbly and fragile. These symptoms particularly occur at an older age because the silicon concentration in the body declines as the years mount. Supplementation of food with (extra) bio-available silicon promptly recovers the skin, nails and hair, which for instance will show itself by a clearly noticeable better and stronger hair growth. There is a direct connection between the silicon concentration and the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Silicon and bones

Silicon stimulates the growth of new bone cells and slows down bone disintegration.
Moreover, silicon boosts the calcium and vitamin D metabolism. Low silicon concentrations are found with osteoporosis patients.
Furthermore, silicon stabilizes the glycosaminoglycan network; the synthesis of collagen - the fibrous protein, which is essential for the flexibility of the bone - decreases in case of a silicon deficiency.
Experimental research on chicken and rats has demonstrated that – with both animals - extra silicon induces a better bone growth as well as an improved fracture healing.
Supplementation of silicon in the diet of rats does increase the calcium percentage in these animals with 20% compared to rats kept on a normal diet.

The absorption of silicon by the body

Already in the beginning of the evolution silicon is found in plants and animals; many plants and animals had an external skeleton of silicon dioxide. After the extinction of these organisms, the silicon skeletons remained and have eventually lead to layers known as diatoms earth.
The role of silicon in the metabolism of humans has been clarified only the last years. Until recently many experiments with silicon failed because nearly all silicon compounds in the food are polymers of SiO2 (silicates). These compounds are not absorbed by the body.
Only (ortho- en di-)silicic acid (= oligomeric silicic acid = OSA) – Si(OH)4 – is completely absorbed by the body and passes the cell membrane. However, the disadvantage is (at least until recently!) that ortho-silicic acid is unstable; that is, it polymerises into insoluble compounds and thereby loses its absorbability.
Oligomeric silicic acid is formed in very small amounts in the stomach, but the quantity is far from sufficient for the daily need of the body. Also in nature small amounts of ortho silicic acid are found in the soil and surface water. However, as a result of intensive agriculture, practically all the absorbable silicic acid has disappeared from the soil and from the drinking water.

Conclusion:

Nowadays hardly any OSA is found in the soil and drinking water (and consequently in food). This is the reason that today only a very small amount of ortho silicic acid is absorbed by the body. Dietary supplementation with (stabilized) OSA will normalise the lost balance in the body, thereby providing the beneficial effects of silicon to humans (plants and animals) again.

New biologically active form

During the last few years a new (manufacturing) process has been developed in which the (by nature) unstable silicic acid is stabilised now and hence can be used for humans, animals and plants. This stabilised silicic acid is biologically active and is very well absorbed by the body. Moreover, the biological availability increases, because the ortho silicic acid is water-soluble. E.g., results from tests with calves have shown that when stabilised ortho silicic acid was added to the food, the percentage of silicon in the serum increased with 70 %. Two Belgian research groups both demonstrated in a comparative human study that the total silicon absorption by the human body is considerably higher after supplementation of stabilized OSA.
The past years also tests on the effects of this stabilized silicic acid on many types of plants, crops and (fruit) trees have been carried out. And the results are definitely spectacular: the plants grow stronger, crop yields increase, fruits are juicier, more mellow and firmer.

Effects on human beings

• Nails and hair grow stronger and various skin disorders disappear by supplementation with silicon;

• Joint symptoms with arthrosis (joint wear) and rheumatism, as well as pain caused by osteoporosis (bone decalcification), often decrease surprisingly. Also pain caused by tendinitis (tendon inflammation) decreases;

• Silicon also appears to be anti-inflammatory and it enhances the functioning of the immune system;

Other effects

• Furthermore, research on rabbits has shown that, to some extent, silicon is able to prevent arteriosclerosis;

• Silicon has a protective role against the harmful effects of the mineral aluminium on the body.

Combination of silicon with the trace element boron

The element boron is also an important factor in bone metabolism. Tests, administering 3 mg of boron per day, resulted in a decrease by 40% of the loss of calcium with post-menopausal women. In addition boron has a positive effect on several hormones and vitamin D.
The combination of silicon and boron appears to have synergetic (mutual strengthening) effects (as shown by Belgian research).
Because this boosting effect lower doses of both elements can be used.

Overview of the effects of silicon on humans and animals

1. Silicon is an essential trace element in the diet of humans and animals. The biologically absorbable form of silicon is ortho-silicic acid (non-colloidal silicic acid): Si(OH)4.
Silicon is found in food and water, mostly in the form of biologically non-absorbable silicates. Oligomeric silicic acid on the other hand, is the biologically active form of silicon and passes the cell membranes.
The highest concentrations of silicon are found in the wall of arteries, tendons, skin, bone, muscle, testis, kidney and the spleen.
The excretion takes place by the kidneys. In case of kidney failure the excretion will decrease.
In literature there are no important side effects identified of ortho-silicic acid.

2. Silicon plays an important role in connective tissue formation and - maintenance, especially with cartilage and bone:

a. Silicon has an important function in the (active) bone forming cells (Carlisle, EM. Ciba Found Symp 1986;121:123-39 and Carlisle, EM. “A silicon requirement for normal skull formation in chicks”. J Nutr 1980 Feb;110(2):352-9).

b. A silicon deficiency could cause bone abnormalities, as has also been demonstrated by various experiment on animals (Carlisle, EM. J Nutr 1980 May;110(5):1046-56).

c. Silicon is also closely connected to the formation of collagen; in case of a deficiency a decline in the buildup of collagen with wound recovery and in bones is identified. (“Silicon deprivation decreases collagen formation in wounds and bone, and ornithine transamninase enzyme activity in liver”. Seaborn CD, Nielsen FH Biol Trace Elem Res. 2002 Dec;89(3):251-61).

3. Silicon has a positive effect on skin diseases:

a. On various forms of acne:

• “The effects of Silicon on moderate to severe acne”: UK field survey; Acne Support Group in Adv Ther 2001 Mar-Apr;18(2):93-9.

• “The effect of silicol gel compared with placebo on papulopustular acne and sebum production”. A double blind study. Lassus A.: J Int Med Res 1996 Jul-Aug;24(4):340-4.

b. On psoriasis:

• “Colloidal silicic acid for the treatment of psoriatic skin lesions, arthropathy and onchopathy”. A pilot study. Lassus A.: J Int Med Res 1997 Jul-Aug;25(4):206-9.

c. On the aged skin, fragile hair and brittle nails:

• “Colloidal silicic acid for oral and topical treatment of aged skin, fragile hair and brittle nails in females”. Lassus A.: J Int Med Res 1993 Jul-Aug;21(4):209-15.

d. On oedema with burns:

• “The influence of orthosilicon acid on traumatic edema of the skin”. Klempous J, Petruk I, e.a.. Polim Med 1998;28(3-4):71-4.

4. In the past years some important findings about the role of silicon in the prevention of arteriosclerosis, aging and tumours have been published: “Silicon, a trace element essential for living organisms”; recent knowledge on its preventive role in arterosclerotic process, aging and neoplasms. Mancinella A.: Clin Ter 1991 jun 15;137(5):343-50.

5. In the phytotherapy (herb medicine) it is known that the plant “Horsetail” (= Equisetum arvense) has beneficial effects on fragile nails, oedema, arthrosis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. These effects are due to the fact that these plants have high concentrations of ortho silicic acid and silicates.
Furthermore, extracts of this plant are applied to protect crops against mildew. For this application there is even a commercial product available in the market based on these special qualities of “Horsetail”.
In popular medicine also the (stinging-)nettle and the hemp nettle are used against brittle nails. These plants too have a relative high percentage of ortho silicic acid.

6. Silicon and other effects:

a. Protection of the nervous system against toxic effect(s) of aluminium

• Silicon has a protective effect against aluminium accumulation (a factor in the development of Alzheimer's dementia) in the brain (“Effect of dietary silicon and aluminium on silicon and aluminium levels in rat brain”: Carlisle, EM, Curran MJ: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 1987;1(2):83-9);

• Silicon protects against the neurotoxic effect of aluminium (“Silicon reduces aluminium accumulation in rats”; relevance to aluminium hypothesis of Alzheimer disease: Belles N, Sanchrz DJ, GomezM, ea: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 1998 Jun;12(2):83-7).

b. Silicon stimulates the excretion of aluminium (“The role of silicic acid in the renal excretion of aluminium”: Bellia JP, Birchall JD, Roberts NB: Ann Clin Lab Sci 1996 May-Jun;26(3):227-33);

c. Silicon reduces the uptake of aluminium by the intestine (“Oligomeric but not monomeric silica prevents aluminium absorption in humans”: Jugdaohsingh R, Reffitt DM, Oldham C, e.a.: Am J Clin Nutr 2000 Apr;71(4):944-9);

d. Silicon boosts the functioning of boron (B), zinc (Zn) and cupper (Cu) and stimulates the calcium household.

7. Silicon and boron: The combination of silicon and boron leads to a synergetic effect.

Henk-Maarten Laane, MD, PhD
June 2002; revision July 2003

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