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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Mineral

Silica (Silicon)

aka Orthosilicic acid · Choline-stabilized OSA

Trace element involved in collagen and connective tissue crosslinking.

Skin, Hair & NailsBone HealthJoint & Connective Tissue

Overview

Trace element involved in collagen and connective tissue crosslinking.

Natural sources
  • Whole grains
  • Beer
  • Bananas
  • Cucumber
Common forms
  • Orthosilicic acid
  • Bamboo extract
  • Horsetail

Forms & variants of Silica (Silicon)

Different chemical forms of Silica (Silicon) behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

ch-OSA bioavailable
Choline-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid (ch-OSA)

Highly bioavailable silica for hair, skin, and bone.

Mechanism of action

Influences prolyl hydroxylase and connective tissue matrix formation.

Pathways
  • · Collagen crosslinking
  • · Glycosaminoglycan synthesis

Effects on the body

Supports
Skin elasticity
Supports
Bone collagen matrix

Organ system effects

Skin

Modest improvement in fine wrinkles in RCTs.

Evidence-based benefits

Improves hair tensile strength and skin parameters

Limited evidence

Potential side effects

Common
    Rare
      Serious

        Drug interactions

        No notable interactions reported.

        Supplement interactions

        Pairs well with

        None listed.

        Avoid combining with

        No specific avoidances listed.

        Dosing & bioavailability

        Typical dose
        5–10 mg orthosilicic acid

        Where to buy

        Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

        Mineral
        Silica (Sili…
        Amazon
        Wide selection · fast shipping
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        iHerb
        Global delivery · curated brands
        Mineral
        Silica (Sili…
        Thorne
        Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

        Scientific evidence (8)

        Systematic reviewExamine.com Supplement Database · 2023

        Silica (Silicon): pharmacology, clinical evidence, and safety — narrative review

        Examine.com Research Team

        Curated narrative review of human and preclinical evidence for Silica (Silicon), including mechanism, typical dosing, and safety considerations.

        Key findings

        Best-supported outcome: Improves hair tensile strength and skin parameters (evidence: limited). Additional outcomes and limitations summarized in the full profile.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — Improves hair tensile strength and skin parameters

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) Improves hair tensile strength and skin parameters" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "Improves hair tensile strength and skin parameters". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — randomized controlled trial

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — meta-analysis

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — pharmacokinetics

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — safety adverse events

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Silica (Silicon) — dose response

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Silica (Silicon) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Silica (Silicon) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

        Google Scholar: Silica (Silicon) — clinical evidence

        Live Scholar search

        Cross-database citation index for Silica (Silicon) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

        Key findings

        Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

        Open study
        Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.