Silicon
Chemical
formula/structure:
The chemical
compound silicon
dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide
of silicon,
chemical formula
SiO2.
Silicon
(Si) is present in biologic material as a silanate, an ether (or ester-like)
derivative of silicic acid which may play a role in the structure of
glycosaminoglycans and their protein complexes.
Natural
Sources of this nutrient in foods:
Silicon
levels tend to be higher in foods derived from plants than in foods from animal
sources. Foods highest in silicon include grains, especially oats, barley and
some rice fractions. Average daily intakes of silicon probably range from about
20 to 50 mg/day with the lower values for animal-based diets and the higher
values for plant-based diets. The silicon content of adult US diets, based on
the Total Diet Study model, is 19 mg/day for women and 40 mg/day for men.
How it
is used by the body:
Silicon, an abundant trace mineral
in nature is proving to be an essential ingredient for stronger bones, better
skin and more flexible joints. Including silicon in your diet may boost the
benefits of calcium, glucosomine and vitamin D. Silicon is essential for the proper
functioning of nerve cells and tissues,
and the synthesis of vitamin
B1 or thiamine
in the human body. It controls the transmission of nerve impulses. It contributes greatly to the strength and
integrity of bones everywhere in
the body. It is also essential
for the growth of hair, nails, and teeth, and is, therefore often called the
'beauty mineral'.
Effects
if this Nutrient is not present:
Deficiency of
silicon in animals causes retarded growth and abnormal bone
development. A deficiency in human
beings can lead to soft brittle nails, ageing symptoms of the skin such as
wrinkles, thinning or loss of hair, poor bone development, osteoporosis(a
condition of brittle bones caused by hormonal changes or lack of calcium or vitamin D). The chief symptom of silicon deficiency is
sensitiveness to cold: one always feels cold even in the hot months. Most of the signs of silicon deficiency in chickens and rats
indicate aberrant metabolism of connective tissue and bone. Chicks fed a
semi-synthetic, silicon-deficient diet exhibited skull structure abnormalities
associated with depressed collagen content in bone and long bone abnormalities
characterized by small, poorly formed joints and defective endochondral bone
growth.
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Silicon-dioxide
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2015936&dopt=Abstract
http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/silicon.htm
http://www.nutrition.org/nutinfo/content/sili.shtml
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