The aim of this research study is to determine by laboratory analyses the effects of drinking silicon-rich water on bone health. This will be determined from blood and urine samples from subjects who will be asked to drink 1 liter per day of either silicon-rich water or water without silicon for 12 weeks.
Naturally occurring silicon as aqueous silicic acids at a level of 85 mg/liter which is well within safe intake limits occurs in water obtained from artesian wells in Fiji (Fiji Water, Inc.). Other drinking waters (e.g. Aquafina, Crystal Geyser, etc.) have all trace minerals including silicon removed by reverse osmosis. Silicon may be a necessary mineral for bone health. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of short-term intake of silicon-rich water (85 mg/day of silicon in the diet from 1 liter of Fiji Water) compared to deionized water (with no silicon) over 12 weeks in normal postmenopausal women. The women to be studied will be stratified by bone density (based on T score by DEXA) and have analyses of biomarkers of bone metabolism to achieve the following specific aims: 1. To conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial in two mixed groups of 15 normal postmenopausal women and osteopenic pre- and peri-menopausal women receiving either 1 liter per day of FIJI water (A) or 1 liter per day of purified drinking water with no minerals (B). During screening we will ask prospective participants about their menopausal status (where post-menopausal means having no menstrual period for one year), block on their menopausal status, and randomize to either Treatment A or Treatment B. There will be 7-8 post-menopausal women and 7-8 pre- or peri-menopausal women in each group. 2. To determine silicon absorption by measuring urinary silicon excretion 3. To determine bone resorption and turn over markers by measuring urinary N-Telopeptide, serum bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, procollagen Type I Intact N-Terminal Propeptide, 25 hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
19
Participants are asked to drink one liter of this silicon-rich water daily for three months.
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Change From Baseline in Silicon Absorption at 12 Weeks
Change from baseline in silicon absorption in response to silicon-rich water (Fiji) supplementation for 12 weeks was determined by measuring urinary solicon concentration (mg/mg) normalized to creatinine.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
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