Products
Products containing colloidal silver are sold, for example, as “dietary supplements” over the Internet. Colloidal silver is not approved as a drug for peroral administration.
Structure and properties
Colloidal silver is very fine, elemental silver particles that are dispersed (dispersed) in a liquid.
Effects
Colloidal silver has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Unlike trace elements and minerals, silver is not essential to the human body and does not need to be substituted. It has no known physiological function.
Areas of application
Colloidal silver is touted in alternative medicine as an actual “miracle cure” for a variety of indications (“indication lyric”).
Interactions
Silver can interfere with the absorption of other drugs, reducing their bioavailability. These include antibiotics (e.g., quinolones, tetracyclines), thyroid hormones, and penicillamine.
Adverse effects
Health authorities in various countries strongly advise against its use because of the possible adverse effects. Silver can be deposited in the skin, mucous membranes, and other organs such as the kidneys and eyes, among others. This can lead to an often (irreversible) blue to gray discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes as well as visual disturbances (argyrie). Other side effects are described in the literature.
