{
    "title": "Biological and therapeutic effects of ortho-silicic acid and some ortho-silicic acid-releasing compounds: New perspectives for therapy",
    "inventor_name": null,
    "publication_year": 2013,
    "device_name": null,
    "goal": "Assess the biological and therapeutic potential of ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4) and its releasing compounds as a bio-available source of silicon for human health.",
    "problem_addressed": "The physiological role of silicon is poorly understood and effective, bio-available silicon supplementation strategies are lacking.",
    "concept_summary": "Orthosilicic acid (H4SiO4) is the most soluble, bio-available form of silicon in aqueous media. It can be released from various sources such as colloidal silica, zeolites, and stabilized formulations (e.g., choline-stabilized ortho-silicic acid, ch-OSA). The review compiles evidence that ortho-silicic acid supports bone mineralisation, collagen synthesis, skin, hair and nail health, and may influence cardiovascular, neuro-degenerative and metabolic disorders. Stabilisation (e.g., with choline chloride) prevents polymerisation and enhances bio-availability, making ch-OSA a practical dietary supplement.",
    "detailed_description": null,
    "category": "Medical & Dental Technologies",
    "principles": [
        "Bio-availability of monomeric silicon species",
        "Hydrogen-bond stabilisation of ortho-silicic acid",
        "Ion-exchange release from aluminosilicates (zeolites)",
        "Nutritional supplementation"
    ],
    "scientific_domains": [
        "Biochemistry",
        "Nutritional Science",
        "Medical Biology"
    ],
    "mechanisms_of_action": [
        "Incorporation of silicon into bone matrix and collagen fibres",
        "Modulation of prolyl-hydroxylase activity",
        "Interaction with trace elements (e.g., molybdenum, calcium)",
        "Potential synergistic effect with vitamin D and vitamin K"
    ],
    "materials": [
        "Orthosilicic acid (H4SiO4)",
        "Choline chloride",
        "Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3)",
        "Potassium silicate (K2SiO3)",
        "Colloidal silica (hydrated silica gel)",
        "Amorphous silica (SiO2)",
        "Zeolite A",
        "Clinoptilolite"
    ],
    "energy_sources": [],
    "inputs": [
        "Ortho-silicic acid or its precursors",
        "Water / physiological fluids",
        "Stomach acid (HCl) for silicate conversion"
    ],
    "outputs": [
        "Increased serum silicon levels",
        "Enhanced bone mineral density",
        "Stimulated collagen type-1 synthesis",
        "Improved skin, hair and nail health",
        "Potential reduction of atherosclerotic risk"
    ],
    "claimed_performance": "Supplementation with ortho-silicic acid (or ch-OSA) increased femoral bone mineral density in osteoporotic women and stimulated collagen synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.",
    "experimental_evidence": "Placebo-controlled human studies showed 53 % urinary excretion of administered ortho-silicic acid; animal studies reported lower blood pressure in hypertensive rats and improved bone growth in silicon-deprived chicks; in-vitro work demonstrated increased collagen-type-1 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.",
    "replication_status": "Reported in multiple independent studies but no systematic replication program documented.",
    "keywords": [
        "ortho-silicic acid",
        "silicon supplementation",
        "bone mineralisation",
        "collagen synthesis",
        "choline-stabilised silicon",
        "zeolite",
        "bio-availability"
    ],
    "related_technologies": [
        "Silicon-based dietary supplements",
        "Stabilised mineral solutions",
        "Zeolite-based delivery systems"
    ],
    "controversy_level": "low",
    "confidence_score": 0.92,
    "practicability_score": 0.84,
    "fringe_score": 0.08,
    "evidence_strength": 0.61,
    "risk_score": 0.12,
    "trl_estimate": 8,
    "source_urls": [
        "https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-10-2",
        "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Orthosilicic-acid",
        "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546016/"
    ],
    "organizations": [
        "RexResearch"
    ],
    "applications": [
        "Osteoporosis prevention and treatment",
        "Skin and connective-tissue health",
        "Hair and nail supplementation",
        "Cardiovascular health support"
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Limited quantitative dosage guidelines",
        "Variable bio-availability from different sources",
        "Potential interaction with other nutrients (e.g., vitamin K) not fully understood"
    ],
    "open_questions": [
        "What is the optimal daily intake of ortho-silicic acid for maximal therapeutic effect?",
        "How do co-factors such as vitamin D or K modulate silicon uptake and action?",
        "What are the long-term safety implications of high-dose supplementation?"
    ],
    "red_flags": [],
    "evidence_quotes": [
        "\"53 % of administered ortho-silicic acid is excreted in the urine, whereas polymeric silicic acid causes only a marginal increase of silicon in the urine.\"",
        "\"Supplementation of silicon in a controlled clinical study induced a significant increase in femoral bone mineral density in osteoporotic women.\"",
        "\"Ortho-silicic acid stimulated collagen type-1 synthesis in human osteoblast-like cells and skin fibroblasts and enhances osteoblastic differentiation in the MG-63 cells in vitro.\"",
        "\"Choline-stabilised ortho-silicic acid (ch-OSA) is approved for human consumption and is known to be non-toxic; its lethal doses exceed 5000 mg/kg bw in humans.\"",
        "\"Zeolite A, a zeolite-silicon-releasing agent, stimulated DNA synthesis in osteoblasts and inhibited osteoclast-mediated bone resorption in vitro.\""
    ]
}