Si ; Si(OH)₄

Silicon is a metalloid element found widely in nature. It is an essential trace element.

• Orthosilicic acid and so-called "organic silicon" (monomethylsilanetriol) have been used as a source of silicon in oral nutritional supplements.
• Organic silicon compounds (silanol, silanetriol, monomethylsilanetriol potassium citrate, methylsilanol mannuronate, methylsilanol hydroxyproline aspartate and siloxanetriol alginate) have been used topically for hair and skin disorders and in antiaging creams.
• Silicon compounds such as silicas and silicones have medical and pharmaceutical uses.

There is no evidence of their efficacy. ^{(Araújo 2016)}

Silicon also has industrial uses, particularly in electronics.

At the date of the last update we did not find any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

The mean concentration of silicon in breast milk is 0.47 mg/L. ^{(Anderson, 1992)} and does not correlate with plasma levels. ^{(Tanaka 1990)}

The observed daily intake of silicon is 20 to 30 mg per day ^{(Prescha 2019)}, which is achieved with a varied diet rich in vegetables, without the need for dietary supplements: 100 g of oats contain 400 mg of silicon and 100 g of brown rice 1,100 g of silicon. ^{(Pennington 1991)}. The physiological effects and adverse effects of silicon are not known. There is no data on what is the minimum or maximum recommended intake. ^{(Inst.Med 2001)}

High-silicon dietary sources are whole grains, especially oats and rice; vegetables, especially garden cress, green beans, spinach, beets, and carrots; spices like curry or thyme; fruits contain less silicon and there is very little in meat, fish and other animal products such as cheese or eggs. ^{(Penington 1991)}

The small dose and poor plasma absorption of most topical dermatological preparations make it unlikely that a significant amount will pass into breast milk.

There are products of null or low therapeutic utility, perfectly dispensable.