{
    "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": "Ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4) and choline-stabilized ortho-silicic acid (ch-OSA)",
    "goal": "Provide a bio-available source of silicon to support bone mineralisation, collagen synthesis and other health-related processes.",
    "problem_addressed": "Insufficient knowledge of silicon's biological role and low bio-availability of dietary silicon, which may contribute to osteoporosis, skin ageing, and other degenerative conditions.",
    "concept_summary": "The article reviews how ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4) and compounds that release it (e.g., ch-OSA, sodium/potassium silicates, zeolites) act as bio-available silicon sources. Supplementation has been shown in animal and limited human studies to improve bone mineral density, stimulate collagen synthesis, and modulate enzymes involved in connective-tissue formation. The therapeutic potential lies in correcting silicon deficiency and leveraging its synergistic interactions with calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K.",
    "detailed_description": null,
    "category": "Medical & Dental Technologies",
    "principles": [
        "Bio-availability of trace elements",
        "Nutraceutical supplementation",
        "Ion-exchange release of ortho-silicic acid",
        "Enzyme modulation (prolyl hydroxylase)",
        "Synergistic mineralisation with calcium and vitamin D"
    ],
    "scientific_domains": [
        "Nutrition",
        "Biochemistry",
        "Medicine",
        "Toxicology"
    ],
    "mechanisms_of_action": [
        "Release of H4SiO4 in gastrointestinal fluids",
        "Stimulation of collagen type-1 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells",
        "Enhancement of bone mineralisation and calcification",
        "Modulation of prolyl hydroxylase activity",
        "Interaction with calcium, molybdenum, vitamin D and vitamin K pathways"
    ],
    "materials": [
        "Ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4)",
        "Choline chloride",
        "Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3)",
        "Potassium silicate (K2SiO3)",
        "Colloidal silicic acid (hydrated silica gel)",
        "Amorphous silica (SiO2)",
        "Zeolite A",
        "Clinoptilolite"
    ],
    "energy_sources": [],
    "inputs": [
        "Ortho-silicic acid supplement (e.g., ch-OSA)",
        "Dietary silicon sources (silicate salts, zeolites)",
        "Water or aqueous medium for dissolution"
    ],
    "outputs": [
        "Increased serum silicon levels",
        "Improved bone mineral density",
        "Enhanced collagen synthesis",
        "Potential reduction in blood pressure",
        "Improved skin, hair and nail health"
    ],
    "claimed_performance": "Clinical trial reported a significant increase in femoral bone mineral density in osteoporotic women; animal studies showed lower blood pressure in hypertensive rats and enhanced collagen synthesis in vitro.",
    "experimental_evidence": "Randomised placebo-controlled study in osteoporotic women (increased femoral BMD); controlled animal study in spontaneously hypertensive rats (lower blood pressure); in vitro studies on human osteoblast-like cells and skin fibroblasts (stimulated collagen type-1 synthesis).",
    "replication_status": null,
    "keywords": [
        "ortho-silicic acid",
        "silicon supplementation",
        "bone mineralisation",
        "collagen synthesis",
        "osteoporosis",
        "nutraceutical",
        "zeolites",
        "choline-stabilised silicon"
    ],
    "related_technologies": [
        "Silicon-based dietary supplements",
        "Choline-chloride stabilised formulations",
        "Silicate-rich functional foods"
    ],
    "controversy_level": "low",
    "confidence_score": 0.9,
    "practicability_score": 0.8,
    "fringe_score": 0.1,
    "evidence_strength": 0.6,
    "risk_score": 0.2,
    "trl_estimate": 7,
    "source_urls": [
        "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546016/"
    ],
    "organizations": [],
    "applications": [
        "Osteoporosis prevention and treatment",
        "Support of skin, hair and nail health",
        "General nutritional supplementation of silicon"
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Variable bio-availability depending on formulation",
        "Limited large-scale human clinical trials",
        "Unclear optimal dosing regimen"
    ],
    "open_questions": [
        "What are the long-term safety implications of high-dose silicon supplementation?",
        "How does silicon interact with other micronutrients (e.g., vitamin K) in vivo?",
        "What is the precise molecular mechanism behind bone mineralisation enhancement?"
    ],
    "red_flags": [],
    "evidence_quotes": [
        "The administration of silicon in a controlled clinical study induced a significant increase in femoral bone mineral density in osteoporotic women.",
        "In a controlled animal study, spontaneously hypertensive rats had lower blood pressure upon supplementation with soluble silicon.",
        "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.",
        "Ch-OSA represents the most bioavailable source of silicon and has been approved for human consumption with lethal doses exceeding 5000 mg/kg bw.",
        "Silicon concentrations in serum showed a statistically significant age and sex dependency, decreasing with age, especially in women."
    ]
}