Reported antiatherosclerotic activity of silicon may reflect increased endothelial synthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycans

Abstract

Silicon plays a physiologically essential but mechanistically obscure role in promoting the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides and collagen. In light of reports that increased silicon ingestion impedes cholesterol-induced atherogenesis in rabbits and may be associated epidemiologically with reduced cardiovascular risk, it is reasonable to speculate that supplemental silicon may stimulate endothelial production of heparan sulfate proteoglycans that inhibit intimal hyperplasia.