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Skin supplement · Mineral

Silicon (orthosilicic acid)

Also searched as: orthosilicic acid · silica supplement · choline-stabilized silicon · silicon supplement · silicon for skin

A trace mineral sold as choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid. A 2005 placebo-controlled study reported less skin roughness and less self-rated nail and hair brittleness. It is a single small study.

Vanu Health Research Team · Updated

What is Silicon?

The form studied in the 2005 trial was choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA), given as pellets.

What it does for skin

In the 2005 trial, skin roughness fell in the ch-OSA group (Rt −16%, Rm −19%, Rz −8% from baseline) and rose in the placebo group (+8%, +11%, +6%). The between-group difference was significant for Rt and Rm.

The abstract does not report skin elasticity directly. It reports roughness and a shear-propagation measure instead.

What the research shows

The trial was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, with 25 women in each group over 20 weeks.

Serum silicon was significantly higher in the ch-OSA group after 20 weeks.

Self-rated nail and hair brittleness fell over time in the ch-OSA group. The abstract does not report a direct comparison with placebo for these measures.

Forms, amounts and limits

The abstract gives 10 mg of silicon (Si) a day as ch-OSA.

The journal published an erratum in 2006 for a dosage error in the article text. Check the full paper before using that figure as a guide.

Safety

The sources reviewed do not report a safety profile for silicon supplements. Ask a clinician before using one if you have a medical condition or take medicines.

Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines.

Questions

Does silicon make hair grow faster?

The 2005 abstract does not report hair growth. It reports self-rated brittleness.

Does silicon improve skin elasticity?

The abstract does not report elasticity directly. It reports skin roughness and a shear-propagation measure.

Sources

  1. Barel et al. 2005, Archives of Dermatological Research (DOI 10.1007/s00403-005-0584-6) (opens in a new tab)
  2. PubMed 16205932 (opens in a new tab)

General information, not medical advice. Vanu Health does not sell this supplement. Read our terms.