Study on the Effective Use of UMO Water-Soluble Silicon in Fatty Liver Complicated by Lifestyle-Related Diseases
- KIWITA
- Jan 18
- 6 min read
Study on the Usefulness of UMO Water-Soluble Silicon for Fatty Liver Complicated by
Lifestyle-Related Diseases
Authors:
Yoshitaka Fukuzawa¹, Kemmi Okada², Daiki Jimbo¹
¹ Aichi Medical University Hospital, Center for Predictive & Integrative Medicine (AMPIMEC)² DNA High-Function Food Medicine Promotion Association
Keywords:
Silicon, functional ingredients, liver disease, lifestyle-related disease, fatty liver
Abstract:
According to the definition of the Japan Society for Silicon Medical Science, “Silicon has excellent properties such as bacteriostasis, permeability, purification ability to adsorb substances, and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent cell inactivation and inflammation.” Silicon can be effective in improving the intestinal environment and suppressing vascular aging. Furthermore, in animal studies, oral intake of silicon has been reported to suppress weight gain. On the other hand, obesity is a high risk factor in lifestyle-related diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and treatment is mainly based on diet and exercise therapy. However, long-term continuation of dietary and exercise therapy is difficult, and pharmacotherapy has not been established. Therefore, in order to examine whether water-soluble silicon improves fatty liver in humans, a randomized controlled trial was conducted for the first time. As a result, weight loss and improvement in liver function were observed.
Introduction:
Silicon exists in various forms, commonly classified as crystalline and amorphous silicon. In Japan, the silicon used as a food additive or health supplement is amorphous and water-soluble. In the human body, silicon is found in bones, joints, blood vessels, hair, and is involved in dental plaque cleaning via saliva and various tissue turnover processes. Adults typically consume approximately 30 mg of silica per day, but silicon cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained from external sources. Silicon is abundant in brown rice, millet, bananas, and raisins, and is also commercially added to beverages and supplements for health purposes.
Despite its anticipated health benefits, most data comes only from animal studies. Animal studies primarily demonstrate effects on bone and vascular health, such as: increased bone mineral density, enhanced bone strength, induction of immune responses, vascular relaxation, and suppression of weight gain in mice. However, there remains insufficient data on physiological or functional effects in humans.
Lifestyle-related diseases are often caused by excessive obesity. For example, NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are strongly linked to obesity and may represent a form of metabolic syndrome. NAFLD encompasses conditions up to steatohepatitis and liver cirrhosis, with prevalence estimated at 9–30%, affecting over 10 million people nationwide. Men are more affected in middle age, women in older age, largely due to obesity progression. Treatment of NASH is mainly diet and exercise therapy, with pharmacotherapy generally ineffective unless comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia exist, and no global consensus exists on drug therapy.
Even in structured settings such as diabetes education hospitalization, continuation rates for diet and exercise therapy are approximately 60%, decreasing over time, with only about half maintaining exercise after one year. Therefore, supportive therapies for diet and exercise are important. Based on anecdotal reports of weight loss with silicon intake in humans, this study aimed to determine whether water-soluble silicon can induce weight loss and improve liver function through a randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
1. SubjectsThe trial was conducted at Aichi Medical University Hospital, AMPIMEC, on 40 outpatients with lifestyle-related diseases, metabolic syndrome, or non-metabolic syndrome patients diagnosed with fatty liver via imaging, or with fatty liver excluding other liver disorders. Exclusion criteria included viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, severe liver dysfunction (≥3× upper limit of normal), heart failure, severe ketoacidosis, type 1 diabetes, severe renal dysfunction, severe infection or perioperative patients, history of hypersensitivity to water-soluble silicon, pregnancy or potential pregnancy, metabolic or autoimmune liver diseases, liver cirrhosis, lack of consent, or deemed unsuitable by the physician.
Forty participants were randomly assigned to water-soluble silicon intake and non-intake groups. Ultimately, 16 participants (mean age ± SD: 67.94 ± 8.50 years) were evaluated in the silicon group, and 9 participants (mean age ± SD: 66.11 ± 11.83 years) in the non-silicon group. The non-silicon group included 9 men (63.89 ± 9.29 years) and 7 women (73.14 ± 3.08 years), and the silicon group included 5 men (63.80 ± 14.34 years) and 4 women (69.00 ± 8.87 years). Dropouts were due to withdrawal of consent or missed evaluation visits; no adverse events occurred.
The silicon group ingested ~9 mL/day of water-soluble silicon (UMO concentrated solution, 8.37 mg/mL; APA Corporation) for six months along with standard diet and exercise therapy. The non-silicon group only followed standard diet and exercise therapy.
Height, weight, BMI, abdominal circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at baseline, three months, and study completion. Blood tests measured type IV collagen, hyaluronic acid, prothrombin time, PAI-1, serum amyloid, pentraxin 3, adiponectin, IL-6, leptin, hs-CRP, albumin, total bilirubin, BTR, eGFR, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, arteriosclerosis index, AST, ALT, γ-GTP, ChE, WBC, hemoglobin, platelets, total ketone bodies, fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and HOMA-R. Quality of life was assessed via SF-8 Health Survey. Visceral fat area (cm²) was also evaluated at baseline and study completion.
Data were analyzed using SPSS ver22.0, with significance set at 5%. The study was approved by the ethics committee and informed consent was obtained.
2. Results
Weight and BMI were significantly improved in the silicon group at three and six months (Figures 1–2). Adiponectin significantly decreased in the non-silicon group at three months but showed no difference at study completion (Figure 3). Abdominal circumference, PAI-1, and ChE showed no significant differences at three months but were significantly improved in the silicon group at six months (Figures 4–6). AST tended to improve in the silicon group at six months (Figure 7).
Visceral fat area showed no statistical significance but decreased in the silicon group and increased in the non-silicon group. No adverse events were reported, and no SF-8 items showed significant differences.
3. Discussion
Weight and BMI were significantly improved early in the silicon group, consistent with previous animal studies, suggesting an additive effect to diet and exercise therapy. Average weight loss in the silicon group was ~3 kg compared to non-silicon, with BMI also significantly reduced. Considering the difficulty of long-term diet and exercise adherence, oral silicon intake could be beneficial for patients with NAFLD and NASH. Abdominal circumference decreased in parallel with visceral fat reduction.
Liver function markers ChE and AST improved, reflecting enhanced protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and possible vascular benefits. PAI-1 improvements may indicate reduced thrombosis risk. No adverse events were observed, supporting safety of oral silicon in humans.
No significant differences were observed in subjective symptoms, likely due to mild cases and small sample size. Average blood test improvements were observed in the silicon group, suggesting potential efficacy in lifestyle-related diseases, particularly NAFLD and NASH, pending larger studies.
Although a single daily dose (~9 mL) was used, silicon is rapidly excreted and peaks in blood approximately two hours post-ingestion, warranting further studies on optimal dosing and timing.
4. Conclusion:Daily oral intake of water-soluble silicon provides an additive effect to diet and exercise therapy for lifestyle-related diseases with fatty liver, with no observed adverse events, indicating usefulness.
References:
Jugdaohsingh et al., J Bone Miner Res, 2004
Kawamura et al., Shin-Gaku Gihou, 2014
Toda et al., Jpn Soc Toxicology, 2014
Morozawa et al., Jpn Soc Toxicology, 2012
Rinde et al., Nanomedicine (Lond), 2020
Sugita et al., JVM, 2015
Imaichi & Watanabe, Jpn J Intern Med, 2014
Kudo et al., Phys Ther Supplement, 2005
Fukuhara & Suzukamo, Igaku no Ayumi, 2005
Jugdaohsingh et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2002
Figures:
Fig 1: Weight (kg) over time — silicon group showed significant reduction at 3 and 6 months
Fig 2: BMI (kg/m²) over time — silicon group significantly improved at 3 and 6 months
Fig 3: Adiponectin (µg/mL) — decreased in non-silicon group at 3 months
Fig 4: Abdominal circumference (cm) — significantly decreased in silicon group at 6 months
Fig 5: PAI-1 (ng/mL) — significantly decreased in silicon group at 6 months
Fig 6: ChE (U/L) — significantly improved in silicon group at 6 months
Fig 7: AST (U/L) — improvement trend in silicon group at 6 months
Note: This paper is translated from the following URL. The content is provided for reference on the scientific research of the raw material only. Whether APA raw materials are used or not, we hope this research will help increase understanding and awareness of body minerals.
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