title: Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on hair tensile strength and morphology in women with fine hair.
abstract: The appearance of hair plays an important role in people's overall physical appearance and self-perception. Silicon (Si) has been suggested to have a role in the formation of connective tissue and is present at 1-10 ppm in hair. Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid ("ch-OSA") is a bioavailable form of silicon which was found to improve skin microrelief and skin mechanical properties in women with photoaged skin. The effect of ch-OSA on hair was investigated in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty-eight women with fine hair were given 10 mg Si/day in the form of ch-OSA beadlets (n = 24) or a placebo (n = 24), orally for 9 months. Hair morphology and tensile properties were evaluated before and after treatment. Urinary silicon concentration increased significantly in the ch-OSA supplemented group but not in the placebo group. The elastic gradient decreased in both groups but the change was significantly smaller in the ch-OSA group (-4.52%) compared to placebo group (-11.9%). Break load changed significantly in the placebo group (-10.8%) but not in the ch-OSA supplemented group (-2.20%). Break stress and elastic modulus decreased in both groups but the change was smaller in the ch-OSA group. The cross sectional area increased significantly after 9 months compared to baseline in ch-OSA supplemented subjects but not in the placebo group. The change in urinary silicon excretion was significantly correlated with the change in cross sectional area. Oral intake of ch-OSA had a positive effect on tensile strength including elasticity and break load and resulted in thicker hair.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wickett
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kossmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demeester
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarys
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calomme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002794:Choline; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012824:Silicic Acid; D002794:Choline