Biosil highlights collagen generators for enhanced hair and skin benefits

As the “collagen banking” trend gains momentum — building up collagen reserves early in life through beauty supplements to prevent its decline later on — Biosil is turning the focus toward the human body’s ability to generate its own collagen, elastin, and keratin with its choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid ingredient, Ch-OSA. 

Ch-OSA is a water-soluble form of biologically active silicon that the body can absorb and utilize. While orthosilicic acid on its own is notoriously unstable, Biosil uses choline to wrap around the acid’s molecules. This prevents them from clumping together, keeping the silicon in its active, absorbable state until it reaches cells.

Biosil has developed a range of skin and hair capsules and liquid drops with Ch-OSA. These do not include conventional collagen peptides, but instead function as “collagen generators.” Ch-OSA highlights their ability to support collagen’s biosynthesis, maturation, and maintenance.

Nutrition Insight speaks to Richard Passwater, medical education director at Bio Minerals, about the clinical research on Ch-OSA, how it differs from traditional collagen supplements, and the data supporting its effects on skin, hair, and bone health.

How does ch-OSA work in collagen “banking” or remodeling?
Passwater: Collagen-based tissues are in a constant state of remodeling. Every day, existing collagen fibers are broken down and replaced by new ones. There’s a new concept called “collagen banking” that I am glad is being used to encourage people to build and protect as much collagen as possible.

Fortunately, this collagen metabolism process is something we can control, and we can take steps each day to limit loss and increase gain.

Collagen production is a multistep, enzyme-dependent process. It all starts with the formation of an initial alpha chain made of amino acids. Eating collagen or taking traditional supplements can be a good source of the amino acids required to build the initial alpha chain.

Ch-OSA is a water-soluble form of biologically active silicon that the body can absorb and utilize, formulated to stimulate collagen synthesis.However, they don’t activate the enzymes required to complete the job. And it’s been estimated that only 10–30% of the initial alpha-chains that get formed are successfully matured into functional, mature collagen.

Biosil Ch-OSA does much more. First, Ch-OSA helps the body make glycine and proline — the two most abundant amino acids needed to start making collagen. More importantly, Biosil helps activate key enzymes that convert the alpha chain into functional collagen, while also protecting existing collagen from two of the leading causes of collagen loss — homocysteine and high cortisol levels.

Sometimes I try to explain the difference: eating collagen is like buying bricks, and taking Ch-OSA is like ordering bricks and paying the workers to build a wall.

Why is stabilization critical for orthosilicic acid, and how does Ch-OSA improve its bioavailability?
Passwater: Orthosilicic acid is the biologically active form of the mineral silicon. It’s found in nature in some mineral waters and in some beverages such as beer. Other forms of silicon must be digested into orthosilicic acid to activate enzymes or serve as a linking agent, strengthening collagen and glycosaminoglycan networks.

Orthosilicic acid consists of single silicic acid molecules that can easily react with each other to form polymers and with many other minerals and proteins bearing a positive charge, forming compounds that must be digested back into orthosilicic acid or, if inside the body, will be filtered out. Ch-OSA technology uses choline to stabilize orthosilicic acid.

Ch-OSA is inherently a liquid. In 1994, we launched BioSil liquid drops. In 2004, we launched BioSil original capsules. We have also developed technology to make the water-soluble granulate used in Biosil HerHarmony and Myoviv.

What specific clinical data support Ch-OSA’s effects on collagen, elastin, and keratin?
Passwater: Independent, university-conducted clinical studies show Ch-OSA supplementation results in statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in thickening and strengthening hair, increasing skin elasticity while reducing fine lines and wrinkles, strengthening nails, and supporting bone collagen formation.

For example, a 20-week study showed that Ch-OSA reduced fine lines by 30% compared with placebo and increased skin elasticity measurements by 89% compared with placebo. It was published in 2004 and was the first controlled clinical study to show skin improvements from the oral consumption of nutrients.

The most recent study on skin was presented at the European Society of Wound Management medical conference in Barcelona, Spain. This study showed that burn victims taking Ch-OSA with standard daily wound dressings had improved rates of wound closure, less pain, and better overall healing than those using only standard daily wound dressings.

Ch-OSA has also been found to help increase bone mineral density at the hip, promote flexibility, reduce joint discomfort, and support gum and jaw health.For hair health, a nine-month study involving women with fine hair increased their hair thickness by 12.8% and hair strength by 13.1% compared to a placebo. Other studies have shown that Ch-OSA supports hair growth and hair strength.

It has also been found to help increase bone mineral density at the hip, promote flexibility, reduce joint discomfort, and support gum and jaw health.

What are the unique selling points of your ingestible products containing ch-OSA?
Passwater: Currently, all Biosil products contain Ch-OSA, clinically proven to generate and protect collagen throughout the body.

We also produce Biosil HerHarmony Beauty Blend, which contains Ch-OSA, along with clinically proven doses of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, to help promote balanced hormones, blood sugar management, and a balanced menstrual cycle.

In addition, we’ve recently launched Biosil Advanced Hair Growth Formula, which has the same clinically proven dose of Ch-OSA as our classic Biosil products. It also contains six additional ingredients supporting healthy hair. Two of these ingredients — Mibelle Biochemistry’s AnaGain pea sprout extract and Ceramosides, a patented wheat lipid extract by Seppic — are clinically proven to reduce hair shedding by encouraging hair to stay in its active growing phase.

Studies also show that the other ingredients in Advanced Hair Growth Formula — taurine, cystine, selenium, and biotin — play important roles in protecting hair follicles and/or encouraging them to remain in their growing phase.