The Silicon Content of Body Fluids

Abstract

Samples of bile, pancreatic juice, cerebrospinal, pleural, peritoneal, synovial and amniotic fluid obtained from patients during routine clinical procedures were analysed for their silicon (Si) content by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Similar Si concentrations were found in each fluid, while these in turn were shown to be similar to the concentration of Si in the serum of 50 healthy subjects (mean serum Si 21.5 μmol/l, SD±4.5). The concentration of Si in 24-hour collections of urine from 50 healthy subjects was also determined (mean urinary Si 194 μmol/l, SD±94). A comparative study was made of serum Si levels in nine different species of domesticated animal.