Silicon: An Overlooked Trace Mineral (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:29:12 PM blank) Silicon, an abundant trace mineral in nature is proving to be (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:29:22 PM blank) an essential ingredient for stronger bones, better skin and more flexible joints. Including silicon in your diet may boost the benefits of calcium, glucosamine and vitamin D. Here are some of the latest findings on this overlooked mineral. The human body contains approximately 7 grams of silicon, which is present in various tissues and body fluids. The silicon in tissues is usually bonded to glycoproteins such as cartilage, whereas the silicon in blood is almost entirely found as either free orthosilicic acid or linked to small compounds. The biological requirement for silicon was first demonstrated by Edith Carlisle and Klaus Schwarz(1,2) in experiments with rats and chickens that were fed silicon-deficient diets. These experiments demonstrated that (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:29:46 PM blank) nutritional silicon deficiency causes skeletal deformities such as abnormal skull and long bone structure, as well as poorly-formed joints with decreased cartilage content. Detailed biochemical analysis revealed that silicon is an essential nutrient for the structural integrity and development of connective tissue.(3,4) Silicon's most popular use is as a nutritional supplement to strengthen not only the bones and connective tissues, but also hair, nails and skin. Silicon in tissue and joints Connective tissue is composed of cells which produce the fibrous protein matrixes of collagen and elastin, as well as the hydrated (water retaining) network of amino-sugars called glycosaminoglycans (GAG) or muco- polysaccharides (MPS). Silicon is believed to stabilize the glycosaminoglycan network.(5) The amino-sugar glucosamine, which is also needed for the biosynthesis of GAGs, has been clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of arthritis.(6) Given silicon's chemical association with GAGs, it seems that the (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:30:34 PM blank) combination of both glucosamine and silicon could have a complementary therapeutic value in the treatment of arthritis and other related connective tissue diseases. Silicon, bone and osteoporosis Bone is actually a special type of connective tissue. (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:30:45 PM blank) Silicon is a major ion in osteogenic cells, which are the bone-forming cells in young, uncalcified bone. As the bone matures, the silicon concentration declines and deposits of calcium and phosphorous are formed simultaneously. In other words, the more "mature" the bone tissue, the lower the silicon concentration in the bone. Therefore, it has been concluded that silicon acts as a regulating factor for the deposition of calcium and phosphorous in bone tissue.(7) (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:30:59 PM blank) Silicon's regulatory action in bone calcification and its vital role as a structural component of connective tissue are the reasons for silicon's classification as an essential trace element in animal and human nutrition. Silicon plays an ongoing role in maintaining bones after their formation. Bone is a dynamic, living tissue system that balances bone formation by osteoblast cells and the ongoing reabsorption of bone tissue by osteoclast cells. (Bone minerals are dissolved and organic bone matrix components such as collagen are digested by the action of osteoclast cell.) Osteoporosis occurs when there is a low rate of bone formation and a high rate of bone reabsorption, thus leading to a decline in bone mineral density and a decreased mechanical strength of the bone. Bone loss occurs generally with aging, but a clear acceleration occurs during menopause or following a failure or removal of the ovaria, which leads to estrogen deficiency. Studies with animals indicate that (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:31:16 PM blank) silicon supplementation reduces the number of osteoclast cells, thus partially preventing bone reabsorption and bone loss.(8) On the other hand it was shown in vitro that silicon compounds stimulate the DNA synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.(9) Animal models for osteoporosis using estrogen deficient rats demonstrate that silicon supplementation can prevent bone loss.(10) In a clinical study of 53 osteoporotic women, silicon supplementation was associated with a significant increase in the mineral bone density of the femur.(11) The positive results of these studies suggest that (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:31:39 PM blank) silicon supplementation, along with calcium and vitamin D, may be useful in the fight against osteoporosis. Silicon's other uses (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:31:47 PM blank) In addition to connective tissue and bone health, several other promising health benefits of silicon, such as protection against aluminum toxicity and protection of arterial tissue have been reported. As much as aluminum has been found in brain lesions of Alzheimer's patients, several researchers have suggested that aluminum toxicity may be involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. In studies with rats,(13) (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:32:03 PM blank) silicon was found to prevent the accumulation of aluminum in the brain. It is believed that silicon bonds with aluminum in food and beverages, thereby reducing the gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum. The protective role of silicon against aluminum was also confirmed in a French population study of elderly subjects: high levels of aluminum in drinking water had a deleterious effect upon cognitive function when the silicon concentration was low, but when the concentration of silicon was high, exposure to aluminum appeared less likely to impair cognitive function.(14) Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by the formation of plaque in the arteries. Plaque is formed when damaged artery tissue is not properly repaired, thus allowing scar tissue, oxidized cholesterol and other materials to obstruct the normal blood flow. Experiments with rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet demonstrated that supplementation with silicon protected the rabbits from developing artherosclerosis. Aside from protection against artherosclerosis, (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:32:29 PM blank) silicon is a vital structural component of arteries. However, the silicon concentration of arteries declines with age, most likely increasing the risk of lesions and plaque formations.(15,16) Silicon in your diet The daily dietary intake of silicon is estimated to be between 20 to 50 mg,17 with lower intakes associated with animal-based diets and higher intakes associated with vegetarian diets. Plants absorb orthosilicic acid from the soil and convert it into polymerized silicon for mechanical and structural support.18 This explains why (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:32:54 PM blank) fiber-rich foods such as cereals, oats, wheat bran and vegetables have a high silicon concentration. An unbalanced diet with a limited supply of vegetables, fruits and cereals will be low in silicon concentration. (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:33:16 PM blank) While whole grain foods are a good, natural source of silicon, the silicon from these foods is insoluble and cannot be directly absorbed in the gastro-intestinal tract. Silicon in food is solubilized by stomach acid into orthosilicic acid, which absorbs directly through the stomach wall and the intestine into the blood. Lower stomach acidity, whether due to illness or age, diminishes our ability to metabolize silicon from food sources. Aging is reported to be associated with an increasing gastric pH. In this view elderly people will have a decreased capacity to convert dietary silicates into bioavailable orthosilicic acid. (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:33:33 PM blank) The refining and processing of food, which removes silicon-containing fibers, contributes to a lower dietary silicon intake. Additionally, (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:33:25 PM blank) many of the additives used in the food industry interfere with the uptake of silicon. In fact, these additives can (a) increase the gastric pH and thereby decrease the rate of hydrolysis of dietary silicates, (b) promote polymerization of orthosilicic acid and (c) chelate minerals in general which are then eliminated through the intestinal tract without absorption. (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:34:13 PM blank) The extensive re-use of soils and the application of aquacultures minimalize the essential supply of orthosilicic acid to plants. The resulting crops have a less rigid structure due to decreased biosynthesis of phytolytic fibers and specific epidermal cells which contain silica structures. (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:34:23 PM blank) Consequently these crops will have a lower silicon concentration and contribute less to the dietary silicon intake compared to crops which have been cultivated on a natural, mineral rich soil. Given all these factors, it is not surprising that (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:34:31 PM blank) silicon supplementation may be useful for a complete and balanced diet. When selecting a silicon supplement, the most important considerations should be safety and bioavailability. (Bioavailability is a complex term for the degree of absorption and the biological response to the silicon compounds which are present in the product.) Organic silicon compounds, which are laboratory synthesized, contain silicon-carbon bonds. These molecules are normally not present in biological systems and can be very toxic. For this reason it is safest to use silicon compounds that are already present in nature or compounds that are the derivatives of natural products. Common silicon supplements include: Plant extracts: Bamboo and algae usually have high silica concentrations. However, plant extracts are often not standardized and the silicon concentration in these products varies greatly. As the silicon from plant extracts cannot be absorbed directly through the stomach wall, the bioavailability of these products requires high stomach acidity in order to produce soluble orthosilicic acid. Colloidal silicon gel: These products offer large, insoluble, polymer molecules of silicic acid suspended in water. Like plant extracts, these polymer-molecules cannot be absorbed directly through the stomach wall and therefore have a low rate of absorption. The stomach's ability to produce soluble orthosilicic acid is also limited to low concentration levels due to orthosilicic acid's limited stability. Stabilized orthosilicic acid: Now on the market is a liquid, stabilized orthosilicic acid concentrate. A research group from the University of Antwerp in Belgium has published a supplementation study describing a (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:35:49 PM blank) high rate of silicon absorption from a liquid silicon supplement containing 2% silicon in the form of stabilized orthosilicic acid. In the six-month study with calves, the total dietary silicon intake was increased by only 5% in the form of stabilized orthosilicic acid. Even with such a small dose of orthosilicic acid, the supplemented group showed 70% higher blood silicon levels than the unsupplemented group. These higher silicon blood levels also translated into a 12% higher collagen concentration in the skin of supplemented animals compared to unsupplemented animals. This study clearly demonstrated that the bioavailability of stabilized orthosilicic acid concentrate is very high compared to dietary silicon.(19) (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:36:01 PM blank) Two independent Belgian research groups demonstrated both in a comparative human study that the total silicon absorption by the human body is considerably higher (more than 2.5 times higher) after supplementation of stabilized orthosilicic acid ,compared to plant extracts or colloidal supplements. In fact this supplementation resulted in a statistical significant increase in silicon absorption compared to the placebo. Without exception, each test subject had a similar absorption from orthosilicic acid, whereas large differences among subjects were found for the other silicon supplements.(20,21) The bone stimulatory properties of silicon were recently investigated in an extended study on chicks. For the first time a normal diet was used instead of silicon deficient diet, which made it possible to observe the superior biological action of silicon in supplemented chicks compared to a control group. The silicon was added to the drinking water of the chicks, which increased the total dietary silicon intake less than 0.5%. Despite this extremely low dose a significant effect was found on both the calcium concentration in the blood and the density of thigh bones (femura). In fact, the chicks had, after six weeks supplementation, 5.6% higher bone density in the hip region and 4.25% higher bone density at the midshaft of their thigh bones compared to non-supplemental chicks. These results show clearly that stabilized silicon (choline- silicon complex) was able to stimulate the bone formation machinery resulting in a higher density.(22) (Highlight comment Owner 1/14/2007 6:35:32 PM blank) Based on all the current research, silicon is now being considered a critical nutrient to better manage the effects of age on the body. Increasing the silicon in your body can occur through foods, plant extracts or supplements. Those with osteoporosis should especially consider the benefits of consistent silicon intake. References: 1. Calisle EM. Silicon, an essential element for the chick. Science 1972, 178:619-62 2. Schwartz K, et al. Growth-promoting effects of silicon in rats. Nature 1972, 239:333-334. 3. Seaborn C, et al. Effects of germanium and silicon on bone mineralization. Biological Trace Element Res 1994, 42:151-164. 4. Seaborn C, et al. Silicon deprivation decreases collagen formation in wounds and bone, and ornithine transminase enzyme activity in liver. Biol Trace Elem Res 2002, 89(3):251-61. 5. Schwartz K. A bound form of silicon in glycosaminoglycans and polyuronides. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1973, 70(5):1608-1612. 6. Reginster J, et al. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomized, placebo- controlled clinical trial. Lancet 2001, 357:251-56. 7. Carlisle EM. Silicon: a possible factor in bone calcification. Science 1970, 167:179-280. 8. Hott M, et al. Short-term effects of organic silicon on trabecular bone in mature ovariectomized rats. Calcif Tissue Int 1993, 53:174-179. 9. Keeting et al. Zeolite A increases proliferation, differentiation, and transforming growth factor beta production in normal adult human osteoblast-like cells in vitro. J Bone and Miner Res 1992, 7(11):1281-1289. 10. Rico H, et al. Effect of silicon supplement on osteopenia induced by ovariectomy in rats. Calcif Tissue Int 1999, 66:53-55. 11. Eisinger J, Clariet D. Effects of silicon, fluoride, etidronate and magnesium on bone mineral density: a retrospective study. Magnesium Research 1993, 6(3):247-249. 12. Candy JM et al. Aluminosilicates and senile plague formation in Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 1986, 1:354-356. 13. Carlisle EM, Curran MJ. Effect of dietary silicon and aluminum on silicon and aluminum levels in rat brain. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 1987, 1:83-89. 14. Jacmin-Gadda H, et al. Silica and aluminium in drinking water and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Epidermiology 1996, 7:281-285. 15. Loeper J, et al. Study of fatty acids in atheroma induced in rabbits by an atherogenic diet with or without silicon IV treatment. Life Sciences 1988, 42:2105-2112. 16. Loeper J, et al. The antiatheromatous action of silicon. Atherosclerosis 1979, 33:397-408. 17. Pennington JAT. Silicon in foods and diets. Food Addit Contam1991, 8:97-118. 18. Sangstet AG, et al. Silica in higher plants nutrition. In Silicon Biochemistry, CIBA Foundation Symposium 121, John Wiley and Sons, New York, p. 90-111. 19. Calomme M, Vanden Berghe D. Supplementation of calves with stabilized orthosilicic acid. Biol Trace Elem 1997, 56:153-156. 20. Calomme M, et al. Silicon absorption from stabilized orthosilicic acid and other supplements in healthy subjects. Trace elements in Man and Animals 10, ed by Roussel et al. Plenum, p. 1111-1114. 21. Van Dyck K, et al. Bioavailability of silicon from food and food supplements. Fresenius J Anal Chem 1999, 363:541-544. 22. Calomme M, et al. Effect of choline stabilized orthosilicic acid on bone density in chicks. Calcif Tissue Int 2002, 70:292.