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.
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.
No critical pharmacological interactions identified.
Reviewed by the Scan Dose Research Team and Clinical Advisory Board | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.