This will help ensure coordinated and safe care. For More Information. Toll-free in the U. Safety Reporting Portal The Safety Reporting Portal allows consumers, manufacturers, health care professionals, researchers, and public health officials to file reports on serious problems suspected with dietary supplements to the U.
Key References. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Silver. Accessed at www. Three systemic argyria cases after ingestion of colloidal silver solution. International Journal of Dermatology. Food and Drug Administration. Rules and regulations: over-the-counter drug products containing colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts.
Final rule. Although it is unclear what toxicity silver poses to internal organs, animal studies have shown that inordinately high levels can interfere with kidney and liver function, damage the central nervous system, and instigate the release of calcium from bones.
It is not known how silver affects reproduction or pregnancy, but research issued by the National Toxicology Program suggests that silver does not cause cancer.
There have been several deaths linked with colloidal silver use, including one case report published in Neurology in which a year-old man died after taking a daily dose of colloidal silver for four months. In addition to potential health hazards, colloidal silver is known to interact with a number of medications, either by reducing their effectiveness, increasing side effects, or impairing liver function as the drug is metabolized.
Possible interactions include:. Other drug interactions are possible, so advise your healthcare provider if you are taking colloidal silver, even for short-term use.
There is no safe dose of colloidal silver. Moreover, it is not known at what point silver toxicity may occur. Part of the problem is that the concentration of silver particles can vary from one brand to the next. Some contain as few as 15 parts per million ppm , while others are in excess of ppm. Age, weight, and health status can also play a part. Despite the FDA ruling against their safety, colloidal silver products are still available as dietary supplements.
Most are sold in liquid form. There are even colloidal silver generators you can buy that diffuse silver particles into water.
Colloidal silver soaps, mouthwash, eye drops, body lotions, lozenges, and nasal sprays are also available. It is important to remember that dietary supplements are not required to undergo the research or safety testing that pharmaceutical drugs do.
As such, quality can vary considerably from one manufacturer to the next. Unlike vitamin supplements, few colloidal silver products are voluntarily submitted for evaluation by an independent certifying authority like U. As such, the consumer can be left blind as to what the product contains or how safe it is. If you decide to buy a colloidal silver product, even for short-term use, choose those that clearly indicate the concentration in parts per million ppm on the product label remembering that less is more.
Do not be swayed by any unsupported health claims. In the end, colloidal silver has no known benefit when ingested, injected, or inhaled, and it may cause more harm than good. However, products can't make any claims that colloidal silver has any medicinal benefits. Colloidal silver is still used in those unregulated products. There has been some early research indicating that silver nanoparticles may be able to help prevent COVID infection. More research is needed, though.
Even if there was a definite benefit, it would need to be weighed against the known risks of colloidal silver. Topical products products used on the skin that have colloidal silver may have some benefits.
Supplements containing colloidal silver aren't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make.
Silver has no known purpose in the body. It's not an essential mineral. Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of metal used in jewelry, dental fillings and silverware.
Manufacturers of colloidal silver supplements often promote their products by claiming that silver can boost the immune system, fight infection and treat cancer. However, no sound scientific studies evaluating these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals.
In the U. When taken by mouth, silver builds up in your body. Over months to years, this can result in a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums.
Doctors call this argyria ahr-JIR-e-uh. It's usually permanent. In rare cases, high doses of colloidal silver can cause serious side effects, such as seizures and organ damage. Colloidal silver may also interact with prescription medicines, including penicillamine Cuprimine, Depen , quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline and levothyroxine Unithroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid.
Brent A. Bauer, M. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. With the use of an online marketplace, colloidal silver can be easily obtained, and consumers can be influenced by the favorable product reviews.
The most common adverse effect of long-term colloidal silver ingestion is argyria. Advising patients against further use can prevent worsening of skin discoloration and development of renal, hepatic, and neurologic problems that have been reported after long-term ingestion of colloidal silver.
Published Online: April 8, Author Contributions: Drs Nouri and Griffith had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content : All authors.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue. Argyria secondary to ingestion of homemade silver solution. J Am Acad Dermatol. PubMed Google Scholar Crossref. Medical concern for colloidal silver supplementation: argyria of the nail and face. Ann Dermatol. Lansdown AB.
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