Graded against 178,763 supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD
Diatomaceous Earth
SupplementLast updated
AVELOR SUMMARY
Diatomaceous earth is fossilized diatom (microscopic algae) shells, composed of ~85% amorphous silica.
It's marketed as a "detox" and "cleanse" supplement with claims about heavy metal removal, gut health, and cholesterol reduction.
Our research found essentially ONE human study: a 2011 open-label trial of DE for cholesterol showed modest lipid improvements.
The "detox" claims are extrapolated from industrial DE use (water filtration) with zero clinical validation.
Food-grade DE is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, but INHALATION of DE (especially crystalline forms) causes silicosis, a serious, irreversible lung disease.
The evidence base is embarrassingly thin for something so widely sold.
WHAT IT DOES
Food-grade DE is ~85% amorphous silica (SiO₂) with trace minerals. The proposed mechanisms are largely THEORETICAL: (1) silica is a structural component of connective tissue (bone, skin, hair, nails), silicon deprivation in animal studies causes skeletal abnormalities; (2) the porous, negatively-charged diatom shells may bind positively-charged substances in the GI tract (heavy metals, toxins), but this is extrapolated from industrial water filtration, NOT human gut conditions; (3) the abrasive nature of diatom shells is effective for mechanical pest control (destroying insect exoskeletons), this is the BEST-ESTABLISHED use. The cholesterol mechanism is unknown, possibly bile acid binding similar to other silica-containing compounds.
Avoid: Pool-grade/filter-grade DE (crystalline silica, DANGEROUS); any product not specifically labeled "food-grade"; products making disease treatment claims
Minimum effective dose: Unknown, no established therapeutic dose
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.