Solgar Oceanic Silica from Red Algae 25 mg, 100 Vegetable Capsules - Excellent Source of Calcium, Supports Bone Health - Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Kosher - 50 Servings

Within 2 weeks I noticed a dramatic reduction of hair loss when shampooing. The product claims to make the hair stronger, but I think it also increases hair growth. It was highly recommended by a friend and now we are both having great results.

Great product!!! We really like solgar products. Great quality and value!!!

Here is some data from a study regarding nutritional benefits of Silica. The reference citation is at the bottom of the article and this is not the article in its entirety.Health implicationsThere a number of studies with compelling results suggesting the essentiality of silicon, delivered as silica, for humans. Indeed, there is continuing debate as to whether there should be an RDI. Silica is omnipresent in US drinking water and is found in surface and well water in the range of 1 - 100 mg/L. However, silica is not listed in the Primary or the secondary Drinking Water Standards issued by the US EPA. The history of consumption coupled with the lack of anecdotal toxicity of aqueous silica has resulted in relatively little attention to the essentiality of silica-derived silicon.A functional role for silicon has yet to be identified but clearly it is feasible and likely. Silicon is known to be required by chicks and rats for growth and skeletal development. For example, inducing silicon deficiency produces profound results including deformities in skull and peripheral bones, poorly formed joints, reduced mineral contents of cartilage, collagen, and disruption of mineral balance in the femur and vertebrae. The obvious effect of silicon deficiency on bone supports the notion that it is critical for bone formation as shown in studies with chickens and rats (15-18). Chicks fed silicon-deficient diets also showed structural abnormalities in the skull and long bones such as the femur (12). More in depth studies using rats deprived of silicon showed decreased bone hydroxyproline levels and inhibited alkaline and acid phosphatases (19). Regarding the former, silicon has been shown to contribute to prolylhydrolase activity necessary for normal collagen formation (12). Silica enhances and maintains articular cartilage and connective tissue due to interaction of silicon with glycosaminoglycan formation, a structural building block of these tissues. Silicon is also a constituent of enzyme(s) involved in bone matrix formation suggesting a role in bone calcification. Clearly, silicon is localized in sites of active bone growth supporting a role for dietary silica.Silicon has also been suggested to exert a protective role in atherosclerosis, in part, due to maintenance of blood vessels (20). For example, increased silica consumption reduces the incidence and severity of atherosclerosis presumably through its effects on blood vessel-associated glycosaminoglycan and collagen integrity and function.Silica is also thought to be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease because silicon can interact with aluminum and prevent aluminum toxicity often associated with Alzhemier's disease (21). This protective effect has also been noted in humans where dietary silicon protected against aluminum accumulation and presumably neurodegenerative effects (22). Collectively, evidence supports a protective role for silicon in maintaining bone health, cartilage and connective tissue structure, prevention of toxicity to the brain, and maintenance of blood vessel integrity.Summary and contusionsMany forms of silica exist with potentially beneficial and detrimental effects. For example, inhaled paniculate silica can be toxic and depends heavily on route of exposure and chemical form. Silica can also dissolve in water to form nontoxic bioavailable silicic acids. This form of absorbable silica found in foods and water, and especially bottled waters, is readily absorbed, reaches key tissue and organ target sites of action, and is efficiently excreted. Indeed, there are compelling data to suggest myriad beneficial effects from silica in water on human health. However, the lack of apparent toxicity and the ongoing debate regarding essentiality have obscured the relative importance of different chemical forms and potential contributions of silica.Further research on silicon is critically needed particularly focusing on the physiological roles of silicon and how this relates to human health, as well as the dependence on chemical speciation. Specifically, ample data exist to support a possible role of silicon in atherosclerosis and hypertension, several bone disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions know to occur particularly in the elderly. Perhaps the focus of future research should begin with this target population of susceptible individuals.Martin, K.R. The chemistry of silica and its potential health benefits. Journal of Nutrition Apr 2007 (pg 94-7).

HELPS WITH BONE AND JOINT HEALTH FOR ME .

I have fine, thin hair. Especially since I developed a digestive ailment years ago, I shed like a madwoman. I began my quest to find a reliable hair supplement about 4 years ago and have used multiple treatments since that time.Hair, skin, and nail supplements do help, however my skin becomes so oily I can't stand it. It's disgusting.I tried a liquid Viviscal knock off that was too annoying to keep up with since I had to mix it up into a beverage and drink it quickly.Pure biotin supplements help my hair, but again, my skin becomes scarily oily as a result. Ewwwww.Yaddi yaddi yadda, I decided to try this supplement a few months ago. I have no idea if it has helped with my hair much, but I figure it must be if my fingernails are a gauge of anything. My hair is still shedding quite heavily, which disgusts me, but I am not balding yet. My skin does not get more oily than what's natural with this supplement. Thank goodness.My nails are the one area where something visible and unusual is going on. I don't know if it's a result of this supplement or if my health took an unnoticed crash months ago, but my nails have a very clear and distinct area, every single one of my fingernails, where you can see that they began growing in much thicker than they had been. My entire life, my nails have been strong and long with no effort on my part. It's just genetics. So the fact that they are now growing in EVEN thicker is amazing. They look like acrylics, almost. So, it's possible that whatever supplement I was on previous to this one wasn't helping all that much, and this one helped to restore my nails to their healthy pre-digestive-illness glory. Who's to say?P.S. - I am NOT referring to Beau's lines on my nails. It is not that, it's nothing where I injured the nail bed, etc etc. They are simply coming in thicker. No, it's not fungus. They literally appear extremely healthy, the way they used to look when I was a healthy kid.Oh, those were the days.