Silicon

  • Essential for living organisms. Silicon (Si) performs an important role in the metabolism of connective tissue, cartilage and bone. In the latter Si appears to mediate the formation of the organic matrix. Collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis also require the presence of Si (1).
  • Si and arginine are involved in collagen formation and bone mineralization. In rats it was found that Si deprivation decreased bone concentration of calcium, copper, potassium, zinc and manganese. Arginine supplementation increased bone concentration of sodium, potassium, manganese, zinc and iron in Si-deficient animals (2).
  • Si deficiency may result in poor wound healing as well as a decreased liver ornithine aminotransferase activity, a key enzyme in proline synthesis (3).
  • Biological role not fully determined in humans. In a recent study it has been shown that the silicon to calcium ratio varies along the human backbone suggesting that Si is compatible with the biokinetics of calcium in the vertebral bone structure (4).
  • Health benefits: Silicon appears to be important for the growth and calcification of bones as well as for the normal growth of skin, hair and nails. There is some evidence to suggest that Si may play a role in delaying the onset of atherosclerosis (5). In an animal model study it has been shown that Si inhibited the gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum, which may be relevant to the Alzheimer disease where aluminum is known to exert a neurotoxic effect (6).
  • Best food sources: Unrefined grains, oatmeal and brown rice, root vegetables.


References
1. Carlisle, E.M. (1988) Sci. Total Environ. 73(1-2) 95-106. Silicon as a trace nutrient.
2. Seaborn, C.D. & Nielsen, F.H. (2002) Biol. Trace Elem.Res. 89(3) 239-250. Dietary silicon and arginine affect mineral
    element composition of rat femur and vertebra.
3. Seaborn, C.D. & Nielsen, F.H. (2002) Biol. Trace Elem.Res. 89(3) 251-261. Silicon deprivation decreases collagen formation
    in wounds and bone, and ornithine transaminase activity in liver.
4. Yamada, M.O. et al. (2003) Biol. Trace Elem.Res. 95(2) 113-121. Silicon compatible with the height of human vertebral
    column.
5. Mancinella, A. (1991) Clin.Ter. 137(5) 343-350. Silicon, a trace element essential to living organisms. Recent knowledge on
    its preventive role in atherosclerosis process, aging and neoplasm.
6. Belles, M. et al. (1998) Alzheimer Dis.Assoc.Disord. 12(2) 83-87. Silicon reduces aluminum accumulation in rats: relevance
    to the aluminum hypothesis of Alzheimer disease.