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Biochemistry of the Essential Ultratrace Elements pp 257–291Cite as

Silicon

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Part of the book series: Biochemistry of the Elements ((BOTE,volume 3))

Abstract

Although interest in the silicon content of animal tissues and the effect of siliceous substances on animals was expressed over half a century ago (King and Belt, 1938), emphasis has been placed until recently on the toxicity of silicon, mainly its involvement in silicosis. The occurrence of silicon in living systems, its physiological and biochemical roles, and its toxicology have attracted increasing research interest over the last 10 years (for an extensive review, see Bendz and Lindquist, 1978) because it is only within the last decade that silicon has been recognized as participating in the normal metabolism of higher animals and as an essential trace element. Silicon has been shown to be required in bone, cartilage, and connective tissue formation as well as participating in several other important metabolic processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of California, 90024, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Edith Muriel Carlisle

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  1. Edith Muriel Carlisle
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  1. The Florida State University, Tallahasse, Florida, USA

    Earl Frieden

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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

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Carlisle, E.M. (1984). Silicon. In: Frieden, E. (eds) Biochemistry of the Essential Ultratrace Elements. Biochemistry of the Elements, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4775-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4775-0_11

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