Silver hydrosol consists of a colloidal suspension of silver particles that are about 0.8 nanometers in size. They are suspended in purified water at a concentration of 10 or 23 mg per kg. No data is available to support the many health claims about the use of silver hydrosol for treating human diseases.
Function
You may purchase silver hydrosol, also called colloidal silver, without a doctor's prescription. It is widely available as a nutritional supplement. Until the mid-20th century, medications containing silver were used as a therapy for conditions ranging from colds to gonorrhea, but more effective and safer modern medicines replaced such products. Silver has no known inherent function in the body, although it can cause a number of side effects.
Side Effects
Colloidal silver can cause side effects such as argyria or silver deposition in your organs, tissues, mucous membranes, nails and skin -- resulting in a bluish-gray tinge that is permanent. Colloidal silver can also irritate your skin; damage your kidneys; cause fatigue, headaches and seizures; and impair the absorption of drugs like thyroid hormone, tetracyclines and penicillamine. You can take colloidal silver orally, spray or rub it on your skin, or inject it into a vein.
Claims
According to its proponents, colloidal silver can kill various germs; treat diseases such as cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis, herpes, diabetes and inflammation of the prostate; and strengthen your immune system. However, scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of colloidal silver is lacking. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially stated that the product is not recognized as safe and effective and has further warned marketers against making unsubstantiated health claims.
Additional Information
Silver can bind to proteins and deactivate certain enzymes. Pregnant women should avoid taking colloidal silver, because it can cause developmental defects in the fetus, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Since silver is not an essential nutrient, you cannot be deficient in it. Because colloidal silver products are only loosely regulated compared to pharmaceuticals, their actual content of silver can differ significantly among manufacturers. In addition, dosage ranges have not been established.
References
- "The EFSA Journal"; Inability to Assess the Safety of a Silver Hydrosol Added for Nutritional Purposes as a Source of Silver in Food Supplements and the Bioavailability of Silver From This Source Based on the Supporting Dossier; November 2008
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Colloidal Silver
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Colloidal Silver Products; August 2010
