Dietary intake of silicon in the adult population of Omsk Region

Aim. To provide a hygienic assessment of dietary silicon intake among the adult population of the Omsk Region. Materials and Methods . In 2023, a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study was conducted in a representative sample (n = 506) of adults aged 18 to 83 years (231 men and 275 women; median age – 45 [32; 59] years). Dietary silicon intake was assessed in a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study. using food frequency data and a custom database of silicon content in food products. Results. The median daily dietary silicon intake in the representative sample was 32.3 (23.6; 41.7) mg/day. No individuals were identified with silicon intake below 5 mg/day or above 500 mg/day during the study period. There were no statistically significant differences in silicon intake between men and women (p = 0.8356) or across age groups (p = 0.102). However, a slight trend of increasing silicon intake with age was observed. The proportion of adults with intake below the adequate level of 30 mg/day was 13.2 ± 1.51%, including 13.85 ± 2.27% among men and 12.73 ± 2.01% among women. With increasing age, the share of individuals with insufficient intake decreased (p = 0.102), although older women were more likely to have lower intake compared to men. The main dietary sources of silicon were: vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, vegetable soups) – 41.9%, beverages (tea, coffee) – 30.3%, and bakery products (rye bread) – 10.6%. Conclusion. The daily dietary intake of silicon among adults in the Omsk Region corresponds to an adequate level. No cases of intake associated with health risk due to deficiency or excessive consumption were identified. The proportion of the population with intake below the adequate level reflects the general silicon sufficiency in this population. Currently, silicon is not considered a priority micronutrient for nutritional intervention in the Omsk Region