Silicon and Rheumatology: joint pain, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis.
By Adrien Baccichetti (biologist) and Kateryna Baccichetti (biochemist).
Silicon is an essential trace element for the health of bones and joints. With modern nutrition being deficient, the body’s silicon store, which is 7g, tends to decrease with age, and the body draws from its reserves, which then need to be supplemented.
Introduction
Silicon is essential for the formation of collagen and elastin. These two molecules are essential components of tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage. Collagen provides tissue resistance and rigidity, while elastin provides elasticity and flexibility.
Silicon, through its electrical properties, helps maintain the cohesion of collagen and elastin fibers by interacting with the amino acids that make them up. Additionally, it helps increase their synthesis. Without silicon, there can be no collagen or elastin.
You can therefore understand the fundamental role of silicon for the body. It is a valuable element for both young athletes and individuals over 50 when bones and joints tend to deteriorate with age.
Silicon is also associated with glycosaminoglycans found in bone tissue and cartilage (such as chondroitin sulfate or hyaluronic acid). It is also necessary for the absorption and fixation of calcium in bones.
These elements help to understand the importance of silicon for bones and joints.
I. Tendinitis, arthritis, ligament problems.
Tendinopathy, including tendinitis, results from degradation or inflammation of the tendon, made up of thousands of intertwined collagen fibers. Its role is to attach muscles to bones.
Tendon disorders are common when they are overused during physical exertion or deteriorate with age. They can cause sharp pain in case of acute trauma or chronic joint pain. Silicon is highly recommended for tendinitis, both for prevention and as adjunct therapy to conventional treatments.
It helps collagen to regenerate and thus form a healthy tendon. It adds rigidity and resistance to shocks.
Elastin, present in small quantities, ensures tendon flexibility and increases resistance to stress. By improving elastin synthesis, silicon helps the tendon maintain its flexibility.
All of this also applies to ligaments, which link bones and are also made up of collagen and elastin.
II. Osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a condition affecting joint cartilage.
Cartilage deteriorates faster than it is rebuilt, leading to fissures and bone spurs. Osteoarthritis causes pain and limited movement. Professor Carlisle of the University of California has shown that silicon helps rebuild cartilage through several mechanisms. Firstly, collagen is involved in cartilage structure, and silicon-assisted collagen reconstruction is beneficial.
Additionally, silicon is involved in the formation of proteoglycans (glycosaminoglycans linked to proteins), major components of cartilage that give it its consistency. Given these actions on cartilage building blocks, it is evident that silicon plays a major role in cartilage rebuilding in cases of osteoarthritis.
III. Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by excessive bone fragility due to demineralization. By age fifty, 50% of women and 25% of men are affected. Aluminum, to which we are all exposed, is thought to disrupt bone formation. Silicon is a natural antidote to aluminum. It binds to aluminum, limiting intestinal absorption of the toxic substance and increasing its renal excretion.
Moreover, silicon is a crucial element in bone formation. Experiments by professors Schwartz, Carlisle, Kervan, or Jugdaohsingh have clearly demonstrated this.
Silicon is essential for calcium fixation in bones.
A calcium supplement will be ineffective in case of silicon deficiency. Nettle is particularly recommended because it contains calcium and silicon.
Bone also consists of collagen and proteoglycans, which require silicon for synthesis. Dr. Baccichetti’s writings explain that silicon stimulates bone-regenerating cells (osteoblasts).
Through its actions at all levels of bone construction and remineralization, silicon is beneficial for osteoporosis.
IV. Other indications.
In addition to its role in the osteoarticular system, silicon, particularly nettle silica, contributes to the proper functioning of muscle cells, maintaining firm skin, vascular elasticity, sustaining brain performance, maintaining strong hair and nails, supporting natural defenses, detoxification, and body drainage.
It is obvious that medical advice is essential in cases of illness and that silicon is a dietary supplement that cannot replace ongoing treatment.
V. What form of silicon to take?
For silicon to be effective, it must be bioavailable, meaning absorbable by the body and not associated with any additives that could disrupt its assimilation and unnecessarily burden the liver. So, beware of preservatives (sorbate, benzoate, citric acid, parabens, essential oils, etc.), stabilizers, and flavors.
Organic silicon is more bioavailable than mineral and colloidal silicon, two forms that are difficult for the body to absorb. Even among organic silicon forms, caution is necessary, as not all are natural, and some are chemically manufactured.
It is essential that silicon be organic and processed by plants to make it assimilable.
Nettle silicon, an excellent remineralizing plant rich in minerals and vitamins, is one of the best forms of organic silicon of natural origin. This silicon is even more effective when extracted by vegetable glycerin, as glycerin is an organic molecule naturally present in the body and is thus recognized by the body’s cells. It allows for the production of 100% natural silicon without additives.