If you're looking for experiences with silicon or with SiWell, you'll probably come across two types of pages: enthusiastic stories without substantiation, or webshops trying to sell you something. We are a webshop ourselves, so the latter applies to us too. That's why we've created this page, where we've tried to accurately describe what is and isn't known. Including the things that don't benefit us.
Why you won't find result stories here
We have chosen not to publish customer stories that state someone's hair loss stopped or that new hair grew. There are two reasons for this.
The first is legal. For food supplements, you are only allowed to make health claims that have been approved by the European Union, and this also applies if a customer says it instead of us. A story with a result in it is a claim, regardless of who expresses it.
The second is honesty. If we post ten enthusiastic stories, you won't know how many people didn't notice anything. We don't know that exactly either. We certainly know that this is not a miracle cure, and its effectiveness varies per person.
What you will find below: what silicon is, what research shows, and what is known about safety.
What we can and cannot say with certainty about silicon
Silicon occurs naturally in the human body, including in connective tissue, skin, hair, and nails. You get it through water, grains, vegetables, and beer.
Research has been done on it. The most famous study is by Barel and colleagues from 2005, on the oral intake of stabilized orthosilicic acid in women with sun-damaged skin.
And then the part you won't read on most silicon pages: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed in 2011 whether there is a proven cause-and-effect relationship between silicon intake and skin, hair, or nails. The evidence was not deemed sufficient. Therefore, there is no recognized health claim for silicon. This does not mean it does nothing; it means it has not been demonstrated according to the standard used by the EU. That difference is important, and it's up to you to weigh it.
What we are allowed to say
Triple A Silicon contains not only silicon but also zinc and selenium, and these two do have a recognized role:
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal nails.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.
- Zinc contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
- Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails.
- Selenium contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Note the word "normal." These claims concern maintaining a normal state, not improving a problem. That's a fundamental difference, and supplement marketing often makes it invisible.
Side effects and safety
At the recommended dosage of 12 drops per day, no known side effects have been reported for the form of silicon used. What you should pay attention to is the total daily intake of zinc and selenium, especially if you are using multiple supplements.
| Substance | In 12 drops | Safe upper limit per day | |---|---|---| | Zinc | 4 mg (40% RI) | approximately 25 mg | | Selenium | 30 µg (55% RI) | approximately 300 µg |
So, with this product, you are well below both limits. But if you include your multivitamin and any other supplements, it can add up.
What can happen with chronically excessive intake:
- Too much zinc can interfere with copper absorption and cause stomach complaints in the long term. -- - Too much selenium can actually cause brittle nails and hair loss, exactly the opposite of what you're looking for. Garlic-like breath and stomach complaints have also been described.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medication (zinc can affect the absorption of some antibiotics) or have a kidney or thyroid condition.
If you are pregnant, we will address that separately under how much silicon per day, and can it do any harm.
Good to know Zinc and selenium are nutrients you normally get through your diet. A supplement is an addition to a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement. The mentioned contributions apply at the recommended daily dosage of 12 drops (0.5 ml), which provides 4 mg of zinc and 30 µg of selenium. Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
For whom this is probably not useful
This also needs to be said:
- Do you eat a varied diet and have no deficiency? Then there's little to supplement, and you should expect little from a supplement. - Do you have hereditary hair loss? No supplement will do anything about that. A conversation with your doctor or dermatologist is more useful then. - Are you looking for a quick fix? It doesn't exist here. Hair grows about one centimeter per month, and a nail is completely replaced in four to six months. Whatever you use, you're looking at that pace. - Do you suspect a deficiency or a thyroid condition? Then have your blood values checked first. A result is more useful than a guess.
Frequently asked questions
Does silicon have side effects? At the recommended dosage, there are no known side effects for this form of silicon. Pay particular attention to your total zinc and selenium intake if you use multiple supplements. See the table above.
How long do I have to use it before I notice anything? We cannot set a timeframe for that, and anyone who does goes beyond what the evidence allows. What we can say: hair and nails grow slowly, so any change to new tissue is by definition a matter of months, not days.
Can I combine it with other supplements? Usually yes, but add up your total zinc and selenium intake. If you use a multivitamin, check what's already in it.
Why drops and not a capsule? It's a liquid form that you put in water or juice. Some people find that more pleasant than swallowing, others find it more inconvenient when on the go. We claim nothing more about it.
Can I read real experiences somewhere? At the moment, there are no verified reviews on the site. We prefer to put nothing up than something we cannot substantiate. You can always ask questions via contact; the two of us will answer personally.
Further reading
- Silicon, zinc and selenium: what each mineral does
- Collagen powder vs silicon: what does the research say?
- How much silicon per day, and can it do any harm?
- View the full composition
Sources
- EFSA NDA Panel (2011). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to silicon. EFSA Journal. - EFSA NDA Panel (2009). Scientific Opinion on health claims related to zinc. EFSA Journal. - EFSA NDA Panel (2009). Scientific Opinion on health claims related to selenium. EFSA Journal. - EFSA (2006). Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. - EU Register of nutrition and health claims, Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012. - Barel A. et al. (2005). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin.
