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Bone health
Silicon is important for the development of bone and connective tissue. The first indications of a beneficial role of silicon for bone health are already three decades old. At present research nutritionists focus on the role of silicon in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, a disease that makes people susceptible to fractures.
Other health effects
American, British and Belgian scientists do pioneering work on silicon research concerning human health. Recently research nutritionists from Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center (USA) found new indications for a positive role of silicon in wound healing. British scientists at St. Thomas' Hospital (London), King's College London and MRC Human Nutrition Research (Cambridge) found that oligomeric silicon (but not orthosilicic acid) prevents for aluminium absorption.
Silicon intake
Foods and beverages differ widely in silicon content. As yet nutritionists assume a food range including wholemeal bread or other less refined cereal products, some vegetables and possible beer may supply sufficient orthosilicic acid, a very good bioavailable form of silicon. Elderly people and people with a diet mainly based on potatoes and meat however may get insufficient silicon. Guidance for the daily intake of silicon however is still lacking.
Breeding and fertilisation
A change of one's feeding pattern is thought to be a good way to increase the intake of silicon. As an alternative a silicon supplement may be desirable. Information about the usefulness of silicon fertilisation or plant breeding for increased orthosilicic acid content in food crops is still lacking. Information about possible effects of culture methods on the silicon form in food is also not available.
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