Silicon is an essential, yet often overlooked mineral. It is found in all tissues of the human body, with the greatest concentrations found in connective tissue such as bone, joints and skin. Silicon plays a major role in the formation of the extracellular matrix alongside collagen, and is needed for the formation of glycosaminoglycans, such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate. (Jugdaosingh)

Silicon plays an essential role in the formation of bone matrix, forming crosslinks between collagen and proteoglycans during bone growth. It facilitates the deposition of calcium and other minerals into bone tissue, and therefore concentrations decrease as bone matures. (Price) Silicon also plays a role in supporting joint tissue by forming the structural framework of connective tissues and providing structural integrity by chemically bonding to glycosaminoglycans within the matrix of joints. Silicon supplementation has been found to reduce symptoms of knee OA in males with grade II or III OA, which was associated with a significant reduction in biomarkers that are related to cartilage degradation. (Geusens)

Silicon contributes to the production of collagen and elastin in the connective tissue of skin, hair and nails. In the skin, silicon is essential for optimal synthesis of collagen and for activating the hydroxylation enzymes. It improves skin strength and elasticity and holds water in skin and cartilage.  With ageing, there is a progressive reduction in the silicon levels in connective tissues, including the skin. Supplementation with silicon as monomethylsilanetriol has been shown to decrease depth of wrinkles and UV spots. (ferrerira)

Silicon supplementation may help to re-establish silicon deficiency or support conditions where connective tissue integrity is compromised. Many forms of silicon, such as those commonly found in supplements have notoriously poor bioavailability, making them ineffective at delivering therapeutic amounts of silicon to tissues.

Silicon dioxide

Silicon dioxide, otherwise known as silica, is the most commonly found form of silicon in food and supplements. Silicon dioxide has poor bioavailability at roughly 0.5-1%, making it inefficient as a supplement.

MMST

Monomethylsilanetriol (MMST) is a silicon compound which has gained attention in recent years due to its high bioavailability at approximately 64%. Its high bioavailability is attributed to its structure as a monomer (single molecule) which makes it easily digested and absorbed.

Human clinical trials show that supplementation with MMST increases serum levels of silicon, making it the preferred form for silicon supplementation. (Jugdaohsingh 2013, Sripanyakorn) The high bioavailability of MMST makes it a wise choice for conditions in which silicon is indicated such as osteoarthritis and skin aging.

Speak to your healthcare provider about using MMST as a supplement.

References:

• Jugdaohsingh R. (2007). Silicon and bone health. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 11(2), 99–110.
• Sripanyakorn, S., Jugdaohsingh, R., Dissayabutr, W., Anderson, S. H., Thompson, R. P., & Powell, J. J. (2009). The comparative absorption of silicon from different foods and food supplements. The British journal of nutrition, 102(6), 825–834. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509311757
• Jugdaohsingh, R., Hui, M., Anderson, S. H. C., Kinrade, S. D., & Powell, J. J. (2013). The silicon supplement “Monomethylsilanetriol” is safe and increases the body pool of silicon in healthy Pre-menopausal women. Nutrition and Metabolism, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-10-37
•  Price, C. T., Koval, K. J., & Langford, J. R. (2013). Silicon: a review of its potential role in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. International journal of endocrinology, 2013, 316783. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/316783
• Geusens, P., Pavelka, K., Rovensky, J., Vanhoof, J., Demeester, N., Calomme, M., & Vanden Berghe, D. (2017). A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 18(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-016-1370-7
• Ferreira, A, Freire, É, Polonini, H, da Silva, P, Brandão, M & Raposo, N 2018, ‘Anti-Aging Effects of Monomethylsilanetriol and Maltodextrin-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid on Nails, Skin and Hair’, Cosmetics, vol. 5, no. 3, p. 41.