Roll Call

“Silicon?”Here!silicon, sometimes as silica or silicon dioxide

Mineral

Hasn’t appeared in a scanned product yet.

As a supplement

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.

A mineral element that appears in supplements in various forms, including silicon dioxide and choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid. It occurs naturally in foods like whole grains and some vegetables.

Why it’s used

Taken by some to support bone density and connective tissue, including hair, skin, and nails.

What the evidence says

There is no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet dedicated to silicon, and no established Recommended Dietary Allowance exists. Some small human trials have looked at bone-related markers with certain silicon forms, but the overall body of evidence is limited and inconsistent, and larger, well-controlled trials are lacking.

Context

Studies have used a range of silicon forms and doses that are not easily compared to one another, which makes it difficult to draw conclusions about any single dosing protocol. Much of the existing research involves small sample sizes or short durations.

Rumors

  1. Silicon dioxide in supplements damages the gut and the gut microbiome.

    We haven’t found evidence strong enough to support this or rule it out.

    What was measured is not yet noted.

    Who’s saying this

  2. Silica supplements strengthen hair and prevent hair thinning and breakage.

    Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence

    Studied in: women with photodamaged facial skin.

    Measured as an outcome.

    Who’s saying this

    • Healthline — a publisher: health information publisher; part of RVO Health, backed by Red Ventures and UnitedHealth Group's Optum
      How we know who this is
      • “Healthline is a digital publisher and does not offer personal health or medical advice.” (their page)
      • “Healthline is part of RVO Health, a company backed by Red Ventures and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum.” (their page)

  3. Silicon supplements (choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid) support bone health and bone density.

    Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence

    Studied in: osteopenic (mostly postmenopausal) women also taking calcium/vitamin D3.

    Measured as a biomarker.

    Who’s saying this

    • Life Extension — a brand: sells its own vitamins and supplements
      How we know who this is
      • “Life Extension is a privately owned vitamin and supplement company.” (their page)

  4. Silica boosts collagen production and keeps skin youthful and firm.

    Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence

    Studied in: women with photodamaged facial skin.

    Measured as an outcome.

    Who’s saying this

    • Fushi — a brand: makes and sells Ayurveda-inspired natural remedies for health and beauty
      How we know who this is
      • “Born in 2008, Fushi began with the combined cultural heritage of Rannesh Jansari and Ria Pattni and the Ayurvedic family recipes handed down by their grandparents.” (their page)
      • “Today, we combine this ancient wisdom with modern science to create pure, ethical natural remedies that embrace the harmonious bond between health and beauty.” (their page)

  5. Silicon dioxide is a toxic ingredient in supplements that should be avoided.

    We haven’t found evidence strong enough to support this or rule it out.

    What was measured is not yet noted.

    Who’s saying this

    • Vitatree — a brand: sells natural dietary supplements
      How we know who this is
      • “At Vitatree, we believe in the power of nature to support vibrant health.” (their page)
      • “Our supplements are made with the highest quality natural ingredients, free from fillers and artificial additives.” (their page)