Types of Silica
The Mineral Form
It is most widespread as the dioxide. In its purest form, the dioxide forms quartz. In this form, the silicon dioxide forms strong bonds with oxygen called covalent bonds where each silicon atom is linked to two oxygen atoms hence the name dioxide for this substance.
The second solid form in which silicon is found is as silicates. Silicates are the main components of rocks and semi-precious or fine stones.
Silicon oxide is used in the semi-conductor, sand paper and abrasive materials, glass, and cement industries. It is also used as a thermal insulation (refractory furnaces, car spark plugs, etc.)
The Liquid Form
The natural liquid form of silicon is ortho-silicic acid, an atypical acid Si(OH)4. This is the form that is present in plants where their chemical processes produce organo-silicates that are used by the plant. However, most of the silicon is oxidized and so only a very small proportion is biologically available.
The Colloidal Organic Silicon
To be called colloidal organic silicon, as we have seen, the silicon must contain one or more hydrocarbon groups and these are also called silanes and usually have the following form: CHx Si(OH)3.
A colloid is to some extent halfway between a solid salt and a soluble salt; that means it is more available than a solid salt but much less than a liquid one. To increase the assimilation of a colloid, the only possible technique is to reduce the size of the molecules in suspension and this process is what has been performed by The Glycan Group with Organic Silicon G5 and Arthrosil Si-G5.
It is in this form that it has greatest bioavailability for the body and the hydrocarbon group and the hydroxyl radicals (OH) are both necessary for this. But let us come back to colloidal silicon: to pass the digestive barrier, Silicon joins a protein which will be used as a carrier. But this protein is not specific to Silicon and will also retain other trace elements, minerals and other substances. It has, consequently, a threshold of saturation which limits the quantity of the absorbable Silicon. If it was necessary to indicate a figure concerning its rate of assimilation, this rate would be around 7% at the most.
The Organic Silicon G5 u2122 (Si-G5 TM)
Organic Silicon is obtained from the u201cpre digestionu201d, i.e. transformation, of mineral Silicon through the action of micro-organisms on quartz crystals (rock crystal). Among the factors developing the activity of these micro-organisms there are certain amino acids (components of the proteins) which join with Organic Silicon to help it become water-soluble. This will result in a solution that we can classify in the family of the Amino-Silanols of acids.
From its hydro solubility and because of its direct connection with the conveying amino acids, Organic Silicon Si-G5 is almost directly absorbable at very high rates. If we want to give a figure, the rate lies between 60% and 70% which is extremely high. Si-G5 does not result from the action of the micro-organisms. The acid-soluble organic derivatives take part in the metabolic exchanges. They represent a form which is ideally absorbed through the digestive tract. We know that they can, in addition, cross the skin barriers and thus be absorbed by simple cutaneous (topical) application.