The Ultar Glacier of Hunza, West Pakistan has received interest in this century by both geologists and medical professionals as to the unique association towards unusual health and longevity of the people who consume the glacier stream water (4-7). Research has revealed that drinking the glacially pulverized rock flour of the Hunza river, eating a favorable diet, and community participation have been critical factors in achieving renowned longevity, a low rate of heart disease, and exceptionally good to excellent health in this community (4-7).

In analyzing the correlation to health and the use of glacial waters, it is apparent that not only do glacial waters have an abundance of important trace minerals but also the amorphous silicate derivatives themselves have unique characteristics in their ability to structure water and transport minerals and electrolytes (1,8,9). Although the structural studies are complex as to the kinetics of the silanol (SiOH) groups formed in different silica (SiO₂) complexes, the initial adsorbed water adjacent to the surface is oriented and has properties (e.g., entropy, mobility, and dielectric constant) different from those of bulk water (1).

Silicates comprise a mineral family and are among the most abundant components of the earth's surface. Natural amorphous and crystallized silicates line rivers, glacier streams and marine environments. Weathering, pressure, ionic conditions and temperatures through the ages produce a variety of soluble silicate derivatives. Numerous water sources including glacial rock suspensions have been analyzed for their silicate structures and mineral compositions (1,2). In particular, various mineral water sources and glacier regions have been linked to the health of the inhabitants who have depended on them for their drinking water (3,4). Some of the relationships between geochemical environment, health and disease are well documented such as iodine deficiency leading to diseases of the thyroid (i.e. goiter, hypothyroidism, cretinism, and increased risk of thyroid cancer) (3). Numerous minerals are now realized to perform vital functions as cofactors and provide numerous structural and functional roles within cells and tissues. Recent evidence suggests that geochemical environments of water sources have a profound influence on the level of health in humans and animals (3-5).

Silicates tend to structurally arrange water molecules up to three layers (wetting). In the presence of molecular water, the silanol groups of small silicates ionize, producing mobile protons that associate/dissociate with the surface to impart an electrical conductivity to the surface that attracts minerals and ions as shown in Figure 1 (1). These layers have been further described as the omega (o-innermost water layer), beta (ß- second water layer) and delta (d-outermost water layer) (Figure 1). The resulting surface-solution interface that exists at wetted mineral surfaces is called the electrical double layer or zeta potential. It is this characteristic that tends to transport small ions, minerals and electrolytes (i.e. hydrogen, iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium, etc.) (1,8,9). These SiOH groups and the resulting water arrangements tend to cage or sieve minerals. They also hold hydrogen atoms within these structures (1,9,10). When hydrogen is further reduced a biological antioxidant property is maintained in the silicate mineral particle.

All capsules used in antioxidant and reduction analyses contained 250 mg of the naturally occurring food grade silica, potassium carbonate, magnesium sulfate and fatty acids developed by a proprietary process in a base of rice powder and were made available by Royal BodyCare, Inc. of Irving, Texas as its product Microhydrin®.

When the reduced hydrogen silicate mineral (Microhydrin) was dissolved or suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, it directly reduced both cytochrome c and NAD+ indicating its strong reducing capacities (antioxidant). When assayed in the standard assay for superoxide dismutase activity based upon the reduction of cytochrome c by xanthine oxidase/xanthine, it reduced cytochrome c. These overall reactions, the reduction of cytochrome c (Cyt c) and the reduction of NAD+ by the reduced hydrogen silicate mineral (Mic) are shown below. NAD+ reduction will be presented in detail later.