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Ascorbic acid however is required to act as an electron donor
in specific enzymatic reactions that only will recognize it in
order to function, as is the case with other antioxidant vitamins.
Although many vitamins have shown antioxidant function in and
beyond their role as enzymatic cofactors, antioxidants are now
realized to act towards random free radicals generated by metabolism
or detrimental intermediates and are preventing otherwise damaging
free radical reactions.
Since the reduced silicate can provide electrons for numerous
reactions as an antioxidant it is now being further investigated
as to these important antioxidant functions. Since biological
molecules can be prevented from oxidation (loss of electrons)
when reduced hydrogen is present to provide electrons the reduced
silicate mineral is providing another function in addition to
mineral and electrolyte transport. This antioxidant function may
be an important factor in the silicate mineral system found in
glacier waters renowned for longevity and enhanced health in
communities that consume water with these properties (4-7).
When the silicate mineral supplement was taken orally in an initial clinical study using human subjects it began showing an effect on urine pH. Most values showed changes to a more normal alkaline pH, considered beneficial towards health. A continuing state of blood and urine acidosis can indicate compromising health conditions. In this same study electrolyte and mineral transport were observed to optimize as seen by statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) results in resistivity (1/conductivity) values in blood and urine in eight subjects after taking 4 capsules of the supplement per day for 18 days (20).
Some nutritional investigators speculate that a silica mineral deficiency is involved in the causation of several human disorders including atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and hypertension, as well as, the aging process (18). Those speculations demonstrate the critical need for studying the importance of silica nutrition and function, especially in aging humans (18). Due to the unique chemical properties of silicate minerals, their antioxidant properties, long-term use, safety and recent research the scientific and nutritional communities continue to investigate the possibilities of these minerals as to their varied nutritional benefits.
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References
