Silica, silicon and horsetail
Silicon is the element. Silica is silicon dioxide, which is about 47% silicon by weight. Orthosilicic acid is a soluble form of silicon that is hard to keep stable, which is why it is sold bound to a carrier. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a plant that accumulates silica, so extracts are standardised to a minimum percentage of it.
| Form | What it is | In this category |
|---|---|---|
| Stabilised orthosilicic acid | Microencapsulated gel on an acacia gum carrier (ORGONO Acacia OSA) | Hepatica |
| Horsetail extract | Extract of the herb, standardised to at least 7% silica | Yango |
| Horsetail with nettle | The same horsetail extract plus nettle herb extract 20:1 | Yango |
Reading the label
There is no EU reference intake (NRV) for silicon, so a percentage cannot be shown. Compare silicon with silicon. Yango prints both numbers, which makes the relationship easy to see:
| Silica on the label | Silicon it contains |
|---|---|
| 17.5 mg | 8 mg |
| 56 mg | 26 mg |
A label that quotes silica (SiO2) gives a number about twice as high as one that quotes silicon (Si) for the same product.
Silica products compared
| Product | Form | Daily dose | Silicon | Pack lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatica Premium Silicon 14 mg, 60 capsules | orthosilicic acid on acacia gum | 1 capsule | 14 mg | 60 days |
| Yango Horsetail and Nettle, 90 capsules | horsetail extract 250 mg and nettle extract 150 mg | 1 capsule after a meal | 8 mg (17.5 mg silica) | 90 days |
| Yango Silicon from Horsetail, 100 capsules | horsetail extract 800 mg, vegetable capsule | 2 capsules with or after a meal | 26 mg (56 mg silica) | 50 days |
The Yango capsules also list the plant extract itself (250 mg and 800 mg), which is a different number from the silicon content. Both Yango labels advise people taking medicines to consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Health claims
There are no EU-authorised health claims for silicon, silica or horsetail. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 only authorised wording may be used, so this category does not promise anything about hair, nails, skin or joints. If a seller does, it is not an approved EU claim.
For hair, three nutrients do have authorised statements under Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, provided the product supplies at least 15% of the NRV:
- Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
You can find them in vitamins for hair and in biotin. None of the silica products here contains them.
Who should check first
None of these three products is recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and the Hepatica and Yango labels also advise against giving them to children. If you take medicines, follow the Yango advice and ask a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Silica or silicon, which number matters?
Compare the silicon figure. If a label only gives silica, multiply by about 0.47 to estimate the silicon.
Orthosilicic acid or horsetail?
They are different sources, and neither has an authorised health claim. Choose by silicon per dose, capsule type and price per day.
Do the capsules contain gelatin?
The Hepatica capsule is a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose shell and the Yango Silicon from Horsetail capsule is vegetable cellulose. Check the Horsetail and Nettle product's ingredient list.
How do I take them?
Hepatica: 1 capsule a day. Yango Horsetail and Nettle: 1 capsule a day after a meal with plenty of water. Yango Silicon from Horsetail: 2 capsules a day, during or after a meal.
Is a higher silicon number better?
Not on its own. There is no reference intake to aim for, so follow the daily dose on the label.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (nutrition and health claims)
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-08-27