01
Bioavailable silicon: what is OAOSA and why does form matter?
Bioavailable silicon and OAOSA (stabilised silicic acid): how to read supplement labels and what research on silicon has found.
Silicon
In short
Silicon is present in connective tissue and is actively studied in relation to the body’s own collagen production. Absorption depends on its form: soluble orthosilicic acid is absorbed, whereas silicon dioxide from bamboo or horsetail is barely absorbed. There is no official daily intake value for silicon in the EU, so look at the form and the amount of elemental silicon on the label.
Start here
01
Bioavailable silicon: what is OAOSA and why does form matter?
Bioavailable silicon and OAOSA (stabilised silicic acid): how to read supplement labels and what research on silicon has found.
Read → 02Forms of silicon in supplements: how OAOSA, ch‑OSA, SiO₂ and MMST differ
Silicon comes in different forms with different bioavailability. We compare SiO₂, silicates, stabilised OSA (OAOSA, ch-OSA) and MMST.
Read → 03Silicon and skin, hair and nails: what the research shows
What studies of stabilised orthosilicic acid showed: skin, hair, nails. Which form of silicon was studied and how it differs from plant-derived silicon.
Read →Overview
The words “silicon 200 mg” on a package say nothing on their own about absorption: differences between forms can be several-fold, rather than a few percentage points. In supplements, soluble orthosilicic acid (OSA) is stabilised with vanillin, maltodextrin, choline, hydrolysed collagen or an acacia gum matrix. MMST is a separate, methylated form of silicon. The highest absorption percentage does not necessarily mean the best clinical outcome.
Clinical studies of skin, hair and nails have investigated stabilised forms of orthosilicic acid, including choline-stabilised OSA. Silicon is also studied in relation to the collagen framework of bone and the structure of blood vessel walls. These findings do not establish silicon as a treatment for, or a means of preventing, osteoporosis or atherosclerosis. Silicon does not replace calcium, vitamin D, medical assessment or treatment prescribed by a doctor.
What silicon is and its forms
What orthosilicic acid is, why “silicon” on a label can mean different things, and how stabilised forms, MMST and silicon dioxide differ.
02
Forms of silicon in supplements: how OAOSA, ch‑OSA, SiO₂ and MMST differ
Silicon comes in different forms with different bioavailability. We compare SiO₂, silicates, stabilised OSA (OAOSA, ch-OSA) ...
What research is exploring
What studies of silicon have found for skin, hair, nails, bones and blood vessels, and where the evidence remains limited.
03
Silicon and skin, hair and nails: what the research shows
What studies of stabilised orthosilicic acid showed: skin, hair, nails. Which form of silicon was studied and how it differs...
04
Silicon and bones: what the research shows
Bone rests on a collagen framework. What silicon studies looked at: collagen in cells, diet and bone density, a one-year tri...
05
Silicon and blood vessel health: what the research shows
Collagen and elastin hold the artery wall together. What silicon studies looked at: levels in the aorta, arterial stiffness,...
How much, and for whom?
Why there is no official intake value for silicon, how much comes from food, how to read the dose on a label and who should consult a doctor.
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Daily silicon intake: how much we get and how to read the label
There is no official daily intake for silicon. How much of it food provides, what the milligrams on a label mean and what is...
07
Who needs silicon?
Silicon is present in connective tissue, and its blood levels decline with age. Who should pay attention to silicon, and who...
Reviewer of the Ukrainian source material
Scientific reviewer of the Ukrainian source material
Andrii Viktorovych Mokiienko
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Senior Research Fellow, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Physical Education
FAQ
Which form of silicon is better absorbed?
Soluble forms, particularly orthosilicic acid (OSA) and its stabilised forms. Silicon dioxide from bamboo, horsetail or quartz is barely absorbed. See “Forms of silicon in supplements” for more detail.
Is there an official daily intake value for silicon?
No. There is no official daily intake value for silicon in the EU, so the dose on a label indicates the daily serving rather than a percentage of an NRV.
Can a test identify silicon deficiency?
There is no reliable test for silicon deficiency at present. Urinary silicon is used in research to estimate how much silicon has been absorbed from food, but it reflects recent meals rather than the body’s silicon “reserves”.
Which foods provide silicon?
Wholegrain cereals, vegetables, legumes and some mineral waters naturally contain silicon. In mineral water it is present in a soluble form; in Ukraine its content is reported as metasilicic acid (H₂SiO₃).
How long did the silicon studies last?
Studies of stabilised forms of OSA assessed skin parameters after 20 weeks or 150 days, hair after 9 months, and bone tissue after 6 and 12 months. These are the durations of the studies, not promises of results.
Who should consult a doctor before taking silicon?
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, in the presence of chronic conditions, particularly kidney disease, or when taking medicines at the same time.
This material is for educational and informational purposes only. Dietary supplements are not medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Consult a doctor before use.