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- Silica is important for the formation of collagen fibres and contributes to bone mineral density, improving bone health.
- Silica is also beneficial for skin and hair health by contributing to the production of collagen and elastin.
- Silica has natural anti-inflammatory properties and may help prevent cognitive decline related to aluminium accumulation in the brain.
Silica or also known as silicon dioxide (as it is a combination of silicon and oxygen – SiO2), is a mineral found in nature mainly in water, rocks, or even beach sand.
Silica Properties
- Preventing bone loss: silica plays an important role in the formation of collagen fibres, which helps to optimise bone mineral density. In this sense, it has important properties on the Bone Matrix, as it can also promote the creation of new bone cells osteoblasts. This is because it inhibits the proliferation of other destructive cells that break down bone: los osteoclasts.
Silicon benefits connective and tendon tissues.
- Skin health: in addition to the production of collagen mentioned above, silicon is also involved in the synthesis of another important component: elastin. Its main function is to give elasticity to the skin, as well as keeping it moisturised and therefore soft.
- Strengthening hair: in terms of hair health, silica contributes to the production of keratin, which is very important for hair health and to prevent hair loss.
Silicon can help improve the appearance of skin and scalp.
- Preventing cognitive decline: a little known function of silicon is that studies relate it to the fact that it can chelate with aluminium in the organism and reduce these levels. An excessive accumulation of aluminium – in the brain – is associated with enhanced cognitive decline in older adults.
Silicon has potentially important properties for neurological health.
- Natural anti-inflammatory: another great quality is that silicon is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which can combat the state of low-grade chronic inflammation , that is associated with signs of ageing. Unlike drugs used for this purpose (NSAIDs), the use of silicon for this aim is harmless and will not degenerate into other side effects associated with the drugs.
How to take Silica supplements
Orthosilicic acid (H4SiO4) must be stabilised to prevent its polymerisation into polysilicic acids and ultimately into silica gel, with a consequent decrease in silica bioavailability. This problem has been solved in the field of pharmaceutical technology by using choline chloride in aqueous glycerol solution, resulting in the formulation known as choline-stabilised orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA).
At HSN we have products with this highly bioavailable component:
The daily dose has not been established, but based on the maximum safe intake level (MSL), it can be estimated at 700 mg/day for adults, which is equivalent to 12 mg silicon/kg body weight/day for a 60 kg adult.
These figures refer to the amorphous form of silicon dioxide and only small amounts of silicon (as H4SiO4) are actually released in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and subsequently absorbed into the systemic circulation.
Related Entries
- All about hair care if you practice sport. See post.
- Buy Silicon Supplements.
