Assessment of the biological effect of natural silicon when entering the body of experimental animals with drinking water. Part 1

Abstract

Introduction. The biological effect of natural silicon (Si) and its hygienic regulation in drinking water still remain subjects of controversy in the scientific literature and in the practice of providing favourable conditions for water use by the population. In this regard, an assessment was made of the effect of natural silicon contained in drinking water in concentrations close to the maximum permissible concentration on the body of laboratory animals.
 Materials and methods. Drinking waters containing natural Si at MPC levels in water were studied, their effect was assessed in a three-month experiment on 80 white outbred male rats. Observations were made of the general condition, appearance of the animals, body weight dynamics, water consumption. 
 The morphological composition of whole blood was studied. Biochemical indices of the condition of internal organs, including the liver, were determined 
 in serum samples (the ALT and AST activity, the level of total protein and albumin), pancreas (α-amylase activity), kidneys (creatinine content), as well as lactate dehydrogenase activity as a nonspecific indicator of tissue damage.
 Results. In animals received 17±3.4 mg/L silicon with drinking water at a hardness of 2.25±0.47 mg-eq/L, a significant decrease in ALT activity was found on the 30th and 90th days of the experiment, AST – on 90th day, increase in the content of total protein and albumin in the serum on the 30th day of the experiment. Drinking water with silicon concentrations of 20.5±4.1 mg/L and hardness 3.55±0.76 mg-eq/L decreased ALT activity and serum creatinine concentration on the 30th day and increased amylase activity on the 90th day of the experiment. The animals had the highest water consumption and intake of silicon from drinking water over the first month of the experiment.
 Limitations. Limitations of the study are related to the short duration of observation and the small number of points for determining biochemical parameters over time.
 Conclusion. Consumption of drinking water containing natural silicon for 90 days led to changes in biochemical indices, largely indicating the positive effect of the element in concentrations of 17±3.4 mg/L and 20.5±4.1 mg/L on the body of laboratory animals.