Written by the SiWell content team ·
Zinc and selenium are two minerals with an EU-approved health claim for hair and nails: both contribute to the maintenance of normal hair, normal nails, and protect cells from oxidative stress. Silicon naturally occurs in the same tissues, although the scientific evidence for this has not yet been deemed sufficient for an approved claim. Below, you can read what each mineral demonstrably does and does not do, and why they are often used together.
Zinc: contribution to hair, skin, nails, and cell protection
Zinc plays a role in cell renewal and protein synthesis. According to the EU-approved health claim, zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, normal skin, and normal nails, and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, the cell damage caused by free radicals that accelerates aging.
Insufficient zinc can manifest as:
- Reduced skin elasticity
- Thinner or brittle hair
- Brittle nails or slower nail growth
Selenium: antioxidant with an approved claim for hair and nails
Selenium acts as an antioxidant and has an EU-approved claim for the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails, and for the protection of cells from oxidative stress. There is no recognized EU claim specifically for selenium and the skin, so we deliberately do not make that connection.
Silicon: what we can and cannot say with certainty
Collagen type 1 is the most common collagen in the body and forms a building block of skin, hair, and nails. Silicon naturally occurs in connective tissue, skin, hair, and nails, and research has been conducted over the years, including on oral intake of silicon in women with sun-damaged skin (Barel et al., 2005).
Why these three are often used together
Zinc and selenium both have a recognized role in the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails, and protect cells from oxidative stress through slightly different mechanisms. Silicon naturally occurs in the same tissues where zinc and selenium perform their work, which explains why this combination is often offered together. It is important to know that the scientific evidence for each of the three substances currently varies in strength.
Frequently asked questions about silicon, zinc, and selenium
Is the combination of silicon, zinc, and selenium proven to be more effective than individual minerals? There is no specific research that has tested the combination of these three substances together for effectiveness for skin, hair, and nails. Zinc and selenium each individually have an approved health claim for hair and nails; for silicon, that recognition is still lacking.
Can I get too much zinc or selenium? Yes, both minerals have a safe upper limit. For adults, this is generally around 25 mg per day for zinc and 300 micrograms per day for selenium, although this can vary per person and supplement. Adhere to the recommended dosage on the packaging.
Read more: silicon for thinning hair
SiWell Triple A Silicon
Triple A Silicon is a liquid supplement with a combination of stabilized orthosilicic acid (silicon), zinc, and selenium. Curious about the ratio and composition? View Triple A Silicon.
Sources
- EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to zinc. EFSA Journal, 2009.
- EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to selenium. EFSA Journal, 2009.
- EFSA NDA Panel (2011). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to silicon. EFSA Journal.
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims. Regulation (EU) No 432/2012.
