Silicon's therapeutic uses
Silicon is a natural elemental substance that has gained attention for its potential therapeutic uses in various health conditions, particularly those related to skin, hair, and nails. It is hypothesized to play a role in the body, particularly in the formation of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, which are vital for maintaining healthy bones and connective tissues. Some of the principal proposed uses of silicon include improving aging skin, brittle hair, and nails, while other suggested applications involve preventing osteoporosis, supporting cardiovascular health, enhancing cognitive function, and aiding wound healing. Although preliminary studies indicate a potential for silicon supplementation to strengthen bones and improve skin elasticity, results from research have been mixed, with some studies lacking rigorous methodologies. Additionally, the safety of silicon supplements is generally considered to be high at recommended dosages, although specific safety limits for vulnerable populations remain undefined. While silicon's role in health is under investigation, its incorporation in dietary sources like whole grains and some vegetables suggests it may be a beneficial part of a balanced diet. Overall, interest in silicon's therapeutic uses continues to develop, warranting further research for conclusive evidence.
Silicon's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural elemental substance used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Aging skin, brittle hair, brittle nails
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Prevention of atherosclerosis, prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, prevention of osteoporosis, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, immune system, wound healing
Overview
Silicon is one of the most prevalent elements on Earth; it makes up more than a quarter of the Earth’s crust, mostly as silicon dioxide. It is hypothesized to play an essential role in the body, but its actual role is uncertain. Silicon supplements are often marketed to improve the health of bone, skin, hair, and nails. Used in breast, facial, and other types of implants, the substance silicone also contains silicon but in an unusual synthetic form.
Requirements and Sources
Scientists have found it difficult to determine whether silicon is an essential nutrient in humans and, if it is, to identify the necessary daily intake. Silicon is found in whole grains, some root vegetables, and beer. Silicon-containing chemicals are also added to products such as salt and baking soda to prevent caking. The average intake of silicon is approximately 10 to 40 milligrams (mg) daily.
Therapeutic Dosages
When used as a supplement, the commonly recommended dosage level of silicon is 10 to 30 mg daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Silicon is a constituent of the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase, which helps the body produce collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Additionally, silicon is directly found in protein complexes that include glycosaminoglycans. These substances are essential for healthy bones, nails, hair, and skin.
Animal and human studies hint that silicon deprivation causes bone weakness and slows wound healing. Artificial bone grafts containing silicon have been used successfully in the surgical repair of damaged bones. Furthermore, a major observational study associated a higher silicon intake with stronger bones. Based on these findings, silicon has been proposed as a bone-strengthening substance for preventing or treating osteoporosis. However, only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies can prove a treatment effective. Such studies have been performed on silicon as a treatment for osteoporosis, and they found both positive and inconclusive results.
One double-blind, placebo-controlled study found potential benefits with a proprietary silicon supplement for aging skin, brittle nails, and hair. Fifty women with sun-damaged skin were given either ten mg of silicon (as choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid) or a placebo daily for twenty weeks. Skin roughness and elasticity measurements showed improvement in the silicon group compared with the placebo group. The brittleness of hair and nails also improved. However, this study, performed by the manufacturer of the product, did not meet the highest design and reporting standards. Another study of the same product demonstrated stronger and thicker hair over nine months in women with fine hair, compared with a placebo. Many of these studies were sponsored by or entirely orchestrated by companies interested in the trial's success, which means the results have a great chance of being biased. While some independent double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on silicon for hair, skin, and nail health have been preformed, they have been small and produced conflicting results.
Silicon has also been claimed to help prevent atherosclerosis, but no meaningful evidence supports this claim. Another potential use of silicon relates to the aluminum hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease, the theory that aluminum toxicity is a prominent contributor to the development of this condition. Some Internet sites promoting silicon supplements claim that increased dietary silicon decreases aluminum absorption. However, whether silicon has this effect remains unclear. Furthermore, the hypothesis that aluminum is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease lost ground in the early twenty-first century. Although more studies are needed, silicon has also been suggested to treat wounds and boost general immune function.
Safety Issues
Silicon is considered a safe supplement when used at doses similar to daily intake. Based on a conservative evaluation of data from animal studies, it has been estimated that even a much higher dose of 13 mg per kilogram of body weight should present little to no risk. (For an adult of average weight, this works out to 760 mg daily.) However, maximum safe doses in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.
Bibliography
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Wickett, R. R., et al. "Effect of Oral Intake of Choline-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid on Hair Tensile Strength and Morphology in Women with Fine Hair." Archives of Dermatological Research, vol. 299, 2007, pp. 499-505.