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Serum silicon concentrations were determined in Belgian healthy children and adults, including pregnant women, by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum levels appeared to be significantly higher in healthy children (1-18 yr) than in healthy adults (19-60 yr). Especially, levels in infants (< 1 yr) were higher than in any other group. Compared to age-matched nonpregnants, the serum silicon content was very low in pregnant women. In addition to the fact that this study for the first time provides serum silicon values in adults and children in Belgium, the most important observation is that these serum profiles might be an indication of silicon essentiality in man.

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It appears that human milk provides optimal conditions for the availability of calcium, iron, and zinc. Availability of calcium, iron, and zinc seems to lower when infant formulas are thickened with indigestible carbohydrates, whereas it does not by adding digestible carbohydrates.

Our observations are in agreement with previous data from in vivo studies in term infants. This in vitro procedure is an inexpensive, simple, rapid, and reliable method that predicts the bioavailability of Ca, Fe, and Zn in foods.

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