Wizard of Vitamins

Silicon Vitamin

What is Silicon?

Silicon is a trace mineral.

Silicon in Diets

Good dietary sources for silicon include whole-grain breads and cereals, root vegetables, and beer. A form of silicon called silicates is added to some processed foods.

Silicon Medicinal Treatments

Osteoporosis Sprains and strains

Known Consequences of Silicon Deficiency

Silicon is not an essential mineral. Deficiencies have not been reported.

Silicon Recommended Dosages

Because silicon has not been established as essential, a recommended intake has not been established. The average diet is estimated to provide 5–20 mg of silicon per day—an amount that appears adequate. When used as a supplement, common amounts range from 1 to 2 mg per day.

Silicon Side Effects

A high dietary intake of silicon is not associated with any toxic effects. Inhalation of large amounts of silicon (in an industrial setting) can cause the respiratory disease silicosis. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with silicon.