Silicon: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Orthosilicic Acid, Silica
Scientific name(s)
Silicon, Si
Family or group:
Minerals and Trace Elements
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Osteoporosis ✪✪✪✪✪
Premenopausal men and women with higher dietary silicon intake seem to have higher bone mineral density, which could reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Another clinical study suggests that a higher silicon intake increases bone mineral density in postmenopausal women under hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This effect has not been observed in women not on HRT. Bone loss in postmenopausal women is mainly due to bone resorption. Silicon seems to affect only bone formation.
Posologie
Orally
40 mg
Dietary silicon intake and absorption.
Dietary silicon intake is associated with bone mineral density in premenopausal women and postmenopausal women taking HRT
Dietary silicon intake is positively associated with bone mineral density in men and premenopausal women of the Framingham Offspring cohort
Wrinkles ✪✪✪✪✪
A small preliminary clinical study on healthy volunteers aged 40 to 60 shows that taking a specific product containing 600 mg of organic silicon in hydrolyzed marine collagen once a day for 90 days improves firmness, hydration, and skin texture, but not wrinkles, brightness, or smoothness, compared to placebo.
Posologie
Orally
600 mg
Synergies
Joint Pain ✪✪✪✪✪
Silicon is suggested for relieving rheumatism (osteoarthritis). In a multicenter, randomized double-blind study, choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid showed symptomatic improvement in men, but not women, after 12 weeks of supplementation, which was associated with a slight but significant reduction in biomarkers related to cartilage degradation.
Posologie
Orally
5 mg
Hair Beauty ✪✪✪✪✪
Silicon helps maintain hair, nail, and/or skin health. Additionally, arterial walls contain large amounts of collagen and elastin synthesized by fibroblasts. Silicon is involved in the synthesis and arrangement of elastin fibers, collagen, and mucopolysaccharides and it is therefore essential.
Posologie
Orally
10 mg
Skin Health ✪✪✪✪✪
Silicon helps maintain the health of hair, nails, and/or skin. Silicon concentrates in the skin and even more in nails, fur, and hair. It contributes to the strength and high resistance of keratinized tissues.
Posologie
Orally
10 mg
Synergies
Properties
Bone Density
In animal research, a silicon deficiency led to significant structural abnormalities of the skull and long bones, strongly suggesting that silicon is necessary for normal bone development. Human research has shown that increased dietary intake of silicon is associated with increased bone mineral density in premenopausal men and women. Other human studies have demonstrated an association between silicon intake and trabecular bone volume and bone mineral density (BMD) in osteoporotic subjects and between markers of bone formation and BMD in women with low bone mass. Orthosilicic acid appears to stimulate osteoblasts in humans. In vitro research suggests that the mechanism of action of silicon includes stimulation of collagen synthesis and other molecules associated with extracellular matrix formation.
Usages associés
Dermatological Effect
Silicon enables the formation of collagen, elastin, and structural glycoproteins. It induces or regulates fibroblast multiplication and promotes the formation of fibrous proteins (mainly represented by collagen and elastin). These fibers are responsible for the suppleness and elasticity of connective tissue. Silicon concentrates in the skin and even more in nails, fur, and hair. It contributes to the strength and high resistance of keratinized tissues. Low levels have been observed when keratinization is incomplete (Psoriasis, exfoliative dermatosis) and high levels in case of hyperkeratinization. Furthermore, skin aging is correlated with a decrease in silicon. Silicon also prevents hair loss and in some cases, promotes regrowth.
Usages associés
Anti-aging
Several factors intervene in the aging process including the degeneration of the functional matrix (connective tissue). Indeed, the extracellular matrix composed of collagen and elastin fibers, as well as glycosaminoglycans confer mechanical properties to these tissues and also regulate metabolic activity. Silicon plays a role in the metabolism of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans, so its deficiency promotes aging at the skin, joint (with an osteoarthritis phenomenon), and bone levels (with a tendency to osteoporosis).
Purifying
Silicon compounds play an important protective role in the body, increasing its self-defense functions and detoxification abilities. This is partly due to the fact that silicon compounds facilitate the elimination of metabolites, foreign and toxic derivatives through urine, and serve as a barrier, slowing down degenerative processes and intensifying collagen biosynthesis.
Safety dosage
Adult: 20 mg - 50 mg
The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) gave a favorable scientific opinion in January 2009 on "orthosilicic acid, stabilized with choline for nutritional purposes in food supplements." The scientific panel determined that the silicon element is perfectly bioavailable from orthosilicic acid stabilized with choline and that its use in food supplements poses no toxicological issues. To date, no Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) has been established in Europe. However, "the EFSA estimated that the typical dietary intake of silicon is 20-50 mg/day, which corresponds to 0.3-0.8 mg of silicon/kg body weight per day for a 60 kg person, and concluded that it is unlikely that these intakes cause harmful effects." According to silicon toxicity studies, the lethal dose is above 5 g/kg of body weight, which is more than 1000 times higher than the useful dose for our body.
Precautions
Pregnant woman: avoid
There is not enough reliable information available on the safety of silicon when used in medicinal amounts.
Breastfeeding woman: avoid
There is not enough reliable information available on the safety of silicon when used in medicinal amounts.
