Silicon

Figure 1. The crystal structure of Silicon.

Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. More than 90% of the Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making silicon the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (about 28% by mass), after oxygen. Within the human body, Silicon is a trace mineral. Silicon can be found in bones, nail, hair, and skin. Silicon is needed for the synthesis of elastin and collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body and which the aorta contains the greatest quantity of.

Silicon can be obtained from natural food sources in the form of silica (or silicon dioxide). Food sources include:

• Green beans
• Bananas
• Leafy greens
• Brown rice
• Cereal
• Lentils
• Beer

Silicon is commonly promoted as a dietary supplement for bone and beauty health benefits. Silicon is used to help with osteoporosis, aging skin, weak bones, heart and cardiovascular diseases, and hair loss. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence presently to conclusively determine Silicon's effectiveness in these applications.