talk.politics.medicine

Will Ketcher

6/24/2006 5:20:00 PM

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts...
Colloidal Silver Products
· Send to a friend
· Download PDF
· Medical Dictionary
May 14, 2004
Consumer Advisory
On this page
· Key Points
· 1. What are colloidal silver products?
· 2. For what health purose are colloidal silver products marketed?
· 3. Do colloidal silver products work?
· 4. What are the risks of using these products?
· 5. Does the Government regulate dietary supplements containing
colloidal silver?
· 6. What should people do who are considering or using colloidal
silver?
· For More Information
· References
This fact sheet provides a general overview of colloidal silver
products, discusses scientific research findings on their use for
health purposes, and suggests additional sources of information.

Key Points
· Colloidal silver products consist of tiny silver particles suspended
in liquid. They are usually marketed as dietary supplements (see
Question 1).
· Over-the-counter colloidal silver products are not considered by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be generally recognized as
safe and effective for diseases and conditions.
· The FDA has taken action against a number of colloidal silver
companies (such as Web sites) for making drug-like claims about their
products.
· Colloidal silver can cause serious side effects. One is argyria, a
bluish-gray discoloration of the body. Argyria is not treatable or
reversible.
· If you are considering using a colloidal silver product, talk with
all your health care providers. Discussing its use with your health
care team is important for your safety and helps each provider make
sure that all aspects of your health care are working together.

1. What are colloidal silver products?
Silver is a metallic element that is mined as a precious metal. It has
various industrial uses--for example, in jewelry, silverware,
electronic equipment, dental fillings, photographic processing, and
disinfecting water. People are commonly exposed to silver, usually in
tiny amounts, through the environment (such as the air), drinking
water, and food, and possibly their work or hobbies.1 Silver has no
known biological function in living organisms.
Silver has had some medicinal uses going back for centuries. However,
more modern and less toxic drugs have eliminated most of those uses. A
few prescription drugs containing silver are still available. For
example, silver nitrate can be used to prevent an eye condition called
conjunctivitis in newborn babies and to treat certain skin conditions,
such as corns and warts. Another drug, silver sulfadizine, can be used
to treat burns. These drugs are applied to the body (i.e., they are not
taken internally), and they can have negative side effects.
Colloidal silver products consist of tiny silver particles suspended in
a liquid base. Sometimes other ingredients are added, such as proteins,
coloring, etc. The products are usually taken by mouth (in which case
the products are considered dietary supplements; see the text box
below). Some other types are sprayed, applied to the skin, or injected
into a vein.
About Dietary SupplementsDietary supplements were defined in a law
passed by Congress in 1994. A dietary supplement must meet all of the
following conditions: · It is a product (other than tobacco) intended
to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following:
vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; or any
combination of the above ingredients. · It is intended to be taken in
tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form. · It is not
represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal
or the diet. · It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.
Top
2. For what health purposes are colloidal silver products marketed?
Colloidal silver products are often marketed with various unproven
health-related claims. Examples include that they benefit the immune
system; kill disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses, and
fungi; are an alternative to prescription antibiotics; or treat
diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, syphilis, scarlet
fever, shingles, herpes, pneumonia, and prostatitis (inflammation of
the prostate).
Top

3. Do colloidal silver products work?
Reviews in the scientific literature on colloidal silver products have
concluded that2-5:
· Silver has no known function in the body.
· Silver is not an essential mineral supplement or a cure-all and
should not be promoted as such.
· Claims that there can be a "deficiency" of silver in the body and
that such a deficiency can lead to disease are unfounded.
· Claims made about the effectiveness of colloidal silver products for
numerous diseases are unsupported scientifically.
· Colloidal silver products can have serious side effects (discussed
further below).
· Laboratory analysis has shown that the amounts of silver in
supplements vary greatly, which can pose risks to the consumer.

4. What are the risks of using these products?
Animal studies have shown that silver builds up in the tissues of the
body. In humans, buildup of silver from colloidal silver can lead to a
side effect called argyria. It causes a bluish-gray discoloration of
the skin, other organs, deep tissues, nails, and gums. Argyria cannot
be treated or reversed, and it is permanent. While it is not known how
argyria occurs, it is thought that silver combines with protein,
forming complexes that deposit in the skin and are processed by
sunlight (as in traditional photography).6,7 Other side effects from
using colloidal silver products may include neurologic problems (such
as seizures), kidney damage, stomach distress, headaches, fatigue, and
skin irritation. Colloidal silver may interfere with the body's
absorption of the following drugs: penacillamine, quinolones,
tetracyclines, and thyroxine.5

5. Does the Government regulate dietary supplements containing
colloidal silver?
Yes, the Government regulates them, but differently than drugs. The
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 places dietary
supplements in a special category of foods. This category is regulated
differently than other foods and than drugs. For example, manufacturers
of dietary supplements, unlike manufacturers of drugs, do not have to
prove their product's safety and effectiveness to the FDA before it is
marketed. If the product is found to be unsafe after it is marketed,
the FDA can take certain actions, such as removing it from the
marketplace. The FDA issued a ruling in 1999 that no products
containing colloidal silver are generally recognized as safe and
effective. The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have sent
warning letters to the operators of many Web sites that market
colloidal silver with drug-like claims (i.e., that their product
diagnoses, treats, cures, or prevents disease).

6. What should people do who are considering or using colloidal silver?
If you are considering or using a colloidal silver product, or any type
of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), talk with all your
health care providers. Discussing its use is important for your safety
and helps each provider make sure that all aspects of your health care
are working together. This is especially important if you are pregnant,
nursing a baby, or considering treating a child. You can also learn
about FDA and FTC actions on misrepresentations for colloidal silver
(see "For More Information" below).