JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOODVolume 4, Number 3, 2001Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Clinical Effects of a Dietary Antioxidant SilicateSupplement, Microhydrin®, on Cardiovascular Responses

to Exercise

KIMBERLY L. PURDY LLOYD, M.S.,1 WENDY WASMUND, B.S.,2LEONARD SMITH, M.D.,1 and PETER B. RAVEN, Ph.D.2

ABSTRACT

Amorphous silicate minerals, often described as rock flour, were once common in natural wa-ter sources and abundant in glacial stream waters. Not only do the silica mineral particlesbond water and other elements for transport; they also can be adsorbed with reduced hydro-gen, which releases electrons, providing antioxidant or reducing potential to surrounding flu-ids. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the cardiovascular responses during ex-ercise after consumption of a dietary silicate mineral antioxidant supplement, Microhydrin®

(Royal BodyCare, Inc., Irving, TX). A clinical trial incorporating a double-blind, placebo-con-trolled, crossover experimental design was employed. Subjects received either active agent orplacebo, four capsules per day, for 7 days before the trial. The trial evaluated six exercise bi-cycle–trained subjects performing a 40-km bicycling time trial. Ratings of perceived exertionand measurements of oxygen uptake, heart rate, performance workload, and preexercise andpostexercise blood lactate concentrations were obtained. Although there were no differences(P � .05) in work performed, heart rate, oxygen uptake, and ratings of perceived exertion dur-ing the time trial, the postexercise blood lactate concentrations were significantly lower (P �.05) when the silicate mineral supplement was used, compared with placebo. These data sug-gest a beneficial effect of Microhydrin on lactate metabolism.

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INTRODUCTION

GLACIAL STREAMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

are abundant in amorphous silicate min-erals, many of which are in the nanoparticle(�1 �) size range.1,2 It was reported by Mc-Carrison3 after visiting Hunza, West Pakistan,that Hunzukuts enjoyed outstandingly excel-lent health and amazing longevity. Althoughsome have questioned the details and accuracyof the records of Hunza longevity, others have

tended to support the claims that individualshad exceptional health and were indeed long-lived.1,4–8 A team of cardiologists observed andreported that the heart health of centenariansin this area was exceptionally good and mayhave been a factor in delayed aging.5 The goodhealth and longevity was attributed in signifi-cant part to the use of glacial milk for irriga-tion of food crops and for drinking.6

Geochemical analysis indicates that colloidalsilicate minerals display a variety of properties,

1Royal BodyCare, Inc., Irving, TX 75038.2Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Ft. Worth, TX 76107-2699.

including the formation of structured wateraround the interface, which provides a hy-drated surface that adsorbs elements or com-pounds such as potassium, iron, magnesium,lithium, calcium, and hydrogen2,9 (Fig. 1).

A specific silicate analog has been formu-lated into a dietary supplement similar to thosefound in glacial waters and retains the geo-physical properties inherent to these minerals.Silicate particles ranging from 50 to 100 Å indiameter can be synthesized and are calledclusters or Microclusters® (a proprietary for-mula manufactured by Flanagan Technologies,Inc., Cottonwood, AZ). The Microcluster inter-face can be saturated with reduced hydrogenor hydride (H�) ions. The particle then acts asa reducing agent or antioxidant when in solu-tion (standard reduction-oxidation potential,

�550 mV). Structured water at the interface sta-bilizes electron transfer2 (Fig. 1). Specific sili-cate interactions could possibly play a sub-stantial role in nutrient bioavailability byenhancing solvation properties and ion andwater transport and by providing free radicalantioxidant protection.2,10,11

The silica hydride microcluster, Microhy-drin® (a proprietary formula manufactured byFlanagan Technologies Inc., Cottonwood, AZ)also provides antioxidant potential in standardantioxidant assays. Preliminary results indicatethat the dietary silicate antioxidant propertiescan reduce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH), cytochrome C, epinephrine, and su-peroxide free radical in standard in vitro assays(Joe McCord, personal communications).

The purpose of this investigation was to test

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FIG. 1. A diagram showing the silica-water interface (silanol bonds SiOH) and the concentric structured waterarrangement about the interface (three water layers designated omega, beta, and delta) with the adsorption of ele-ments within the layers.

the cardiovascular effects of the antioxidantduring exercise performance against a placebo.A 40-km bicycling time trial was undertaken todetermine the supplement’s effects on energyproduction during exercise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical trial procedures were performed inaccordance with ethical standards of the Com-mittee on Human Experimentation and theHelsinki Declaration. The experimental proce-dure and consent forms, signed by the volun-teers before participation, were approved bythe Institutional Review Board of the Univer-sity of North Texas Health Science Center. Eachcapsule contained 250 mg of colloidal silicatemineral, Microhydrin, which contains rice branflour (350 mg) as an excipient ingredient andis distributed by Royal BodyCare Inc. of Irving,Texas. The silicate supplement consists of aproprietary colloidal mineral–containing food-grade silica, potassium carbonate, and magne-

sium sulfate formulated into a sphericalnanocolloidal silicate particle. Placebos, takenduring the control periods, contained approxi-mately 570 mg of rice bran flour.

Six male subjects were crossed over to takeeither the dietary supplement or placebo for 7days before completing a 40-km bicycling timetrial. Subjects were given the appropriate num-ber of capsules to be taken three times per day(1 capsule in the morning, 2 at midday, and 1in the evening) for 1 week before each exerciseperformance testing day and on the day of test-ing. A sample population of six male bicyclistswho were disease free, drug free, and non-smokers, aged 20–29 years, performed a bicycletime trial performance test. Individuals werehighly fit, defined as having a bicycle maximaloxygen uptake (VO2max) greater than 60ml/kg/min. Each subject completed a medicalhistory form and physical activity questionnaireand had a normal resting electrocardiogram(ECG) reviewed by the collaborating physician.Each subject attended the laboratory three dif-ferent times—once for the initial screening ex-

MICROHYDRIN® CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS DURING EXERCISE 153

FIG. 2. Averages of six subjects’ heart rates measured in beats per minute every 10 minutes during 40-km bicyclingexercise trial for placebo and active conditions.

amination, once after taking placebo, and onceafter taking the Microhydrin supplement.

The initial screening examination included a12-lead ECG, a resting blood pressure mea-surement, a medical history questionnaire, anda graded exercise stress test on an upright stationary bicycle (ID5500; Scifit Lahaina, Maui,HI) for determination of VO2max. Subjects wereasked to complete a diary on their intake offood, supplements, and liquids during the weekbefore performance testing to ensure that di-etary guidelines were followed. Subjects wereinstructed to refrain from using other dietarysupplements during the performance testweeks. The meal eaten before testing was stan-dardized to avoid any dietary differences. Sub-jects refrained from exercise, caffeine, and alco-hol for 24 hours before performance testing.

Each subject performed two exercise bouts inrandom order, with 1 week between testingdays for the washout period. On the day of test-ing (bicycling trial), each subject ingested thetwo midday capsules with a glass of water, 30minutes before the start of exercise. Resting

blood lactate samples were obtained 5 minutesbefore the ride (preexercise blood lactate) and5 minutes after the ride while resting in theseated position (postexercise blood lactate).

During the 40-km time trial, ratings of per-ceived exertion (RPE) and measurements ofheart rate, VO2, and workload were obtainedevery 10 minutes. Each subject was instructedto ride a stationary cycle ergometer at a con-stant rate (90–100 rpm) for the 40-km (24.8miles). Subjects were able to adjust the work-load to the maximum load that they couldmaintain throughout the time trial. Heart ratewas monitored continuously by three-leadECG (Hewlett Packard model #78354A; AgilentTechnologies, Palo Alto, CA).

Breath-by-breath respiratory analysis wasperformed by having subjects respire througha mouthpiece attached to a turbine volume me-ter transducer (Alpha Technologies, LaguanHills, CA; VMM). Respired O2 and CO2 frac-tions were measured from a sampling port inthe mouthpiece connected by way of a capil-lary sampling tube to a calibrated mass spec-

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FIG. 3. Averages of six subjects’ VO2 taken every 10 minutes during 40-km bicycling exercise trial for placebo andactive conditions.

trometer (Perkin-Elmer, Pomona, CA; MGA1100). The analog signals from both the massspectrometer and the volume meter underwentanalog-to-digital conversion with the use of alaboratory computer. On-line, breath-by-breath computation was obtained using cus-tomized software for VO2. RPE values were ob-tained every 5 minutes during steady-stateexercise according to the methods of Dunbar.12

Five minutes after the completion of the timetrial, a postexercise capillary blood lactatesample was drawn from a finger prick. Bloodlactate (15–50 �l) was measured by an Accu-sport (Indianapolis, IN) lactate monitor ac-cording to standard methods.13,14

Data analysis

All variables were statistically evaluated us-ing analysis of variance (ANOVA) two-way re-peated measures with two-factor repetition forcomparisons between active and placebo status.Subject differences were evaluated by a pairedtwo-sample for means, Student’s t test. Changesin exercise values (VO2, RPE, heart rate, and

performance workload) were evaluated alsowith the ANOVA with repeated measures. Thestudy was a crossover design in which each sub-ject served as his or her own control in the re-peated-measures ANOVA. Time to completionof the bicycling trial and measurements of lac-tate concentration had only one preexercise andone postexercise value.

RESULTS

Figure 2 summarizes the six subjects’ heartrate averages measured in beats per minute(bpm) in response to exercise for placebo anddietary supplement (active) conditions duringthe bicycling exercise time trial taken at 10-minute intervals. No significant difference wasdetected between active and placebo status.Figure 3 summarizes the six subjects’ VO2 av-erages in response to exercise for placebo andactive conditions taken at 10-minute intervalsduring the bicycling exercise trial. No signifi-cant difference was detected between activeand placebo status. Figure 4 summarizes the six

MICROHYDRIN® CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS DURING EXERCISE 155

FIG. 4. Averages of six subjects’ workload (watts) in response to 40-km bicycling exercise trial for placebo and ac-tive taken at 10-minute intervals.

subjects’ workload averages (watts) in re-sponse to exercise for placebo and active con-ditions taken at 10-minute intervals. No signif-icant difference was detected between activeand placebo status. Figure 5 summarizes the sixsubjects’ RPE averages during the exercise trialtaken at 10-minute intervals. No significant dif-ference was detected between active andplacebo status.

Figure 6 summarizes the preexercise andpostexercise averages for blood lactate concen-tration for the six cyclists. There was no signif-icant difference in preride baseline values. Ex-ercise resulted in a significant increase in bloodlactate concentration for both placebo and ac-tive conditions. (P � .01 and P � .03, respec-tively). However, the postexercise blood lactatelevels were significantly different (P � .03) be-tween the active and placebo groups. The ac-tive group showed a lower postexercise wholeblood lactate concentration (2.57 mmol/L,compared with 3.37 mmol/L for placebo). Fig-ure 7 compares the change in lactate level afterexercise for placebo versus active status. The

difference between the two groups was statis-tically significant at P � .03. The lactate accu-mulation when cyclists consumed the activeagent was significantly lower than when theyused placebo.

DISCUSSION

Although standard antioxidant tests have re-vealed the dietary supplement, Microhydrin, toact as an antioxidant, it was of interest to ob-serve whether Microhydrin would provide anyexercise benefit. Standard exercise parameterswere evaluated to observe any possiblechanges or benefits from the dietary supple-ment during an endurance performance exer-cise trial.

Most endurance trials measuring the effectsof antioxidants tend to measure lipid peroxi-dation products and performance improve-ment but do not necessarily measure lactic acidlevels. One study evaluated the effects of 5months of �-tocopherol supplementation on

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FIG. 5. Averages of six subjects’ ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) taken at 10-minute intervals during 40-km bi-cycling trial for placebo and active conditions.

physical performance during aerobic exercisetraining in 30 cyclists. Vitamin E supplementa-tion resulted in no significant effects on lactateconcentration or exercise performance, com-pared with placebo.15

Although the literature on interpretation ofendurance performance has varied, endurancecapacity has most often been expressed by theVO2max.16,17 However, VO2max was recently

found not to be the best predictor of enduranceperformance capability.18–20

The Rating Scale of Perceived Exertion (RPE,from 6 to 20) was initially described by G. V.Borg in 1970, and thereafter numerous studiesshowed that this scale was a good indicator ofphysical stress and physical working capacity.However, there still remains a large variabilityin RPE values for subjects performing the samerelative constant workload (percentage of max-imal oxygen consumption).23

In determining anaerobic threshold, somerely on heart rate analysis and others on lactatelevels or respiratory parameters. Although car-diovascular parameters were monitored in theexercise trial, there were no significant changesduring the cycling trial in VO2max, RPE, work-load, or heart rate. Venous capillary postexer-cise blood lactate levels were significantlylower (P � .03) during supplementation com-pared with placebo consumption.

Capillary blood lactate assessment is in-creasingly used by well-trained runners tomonitor the intensity of endurance exercise.24

Often athletic trials monitor lactate to com-pare individuals who are well or poorly en-durance trained for threshold levels. En-durance training before exercise testing was

MICROHYDRIN® CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS DURING EXERCISE 157

FIG. 6. Averages of six subjects’ preexercise and postexercise blood lactate levels for placebo and active conditionswith probability values.

FIG. 7. Averages of six subjects’ change in blood lactatelevel after exercise for placebo and active conditions,showing the statistically significant change (P � .03) be-tween groups.

shown in some studies to significantly de-crease postexercise blood lactate levels.21

Spengler et al.21 postulated that the reductionin blood lactate concentration may be causedby improved lactate uptake or an increasedability to metabolize lactate, speculating thatthe trained respiratory muscles may be af-fecting lactate utilization.

In the present study, the trial athletes weresimilarly matched and were well fit but partic-ipated in no additional respiratory or en-durance training before the exercise trial. Res-piratory VO2 showed no significant changebefore or after exercise according to use ofplacebo or Microhydrin. Increases in aerobicversus anaerobic energy production wouldhave been associated with an increased VO2.21

The double-blind crossover design indicatedthat the dietary supplement was exerting someeffect on postexercise lactate levels.

We have postulated that lowered lactatelevels may reflect a metabolic effect of the di-etary antioxidant supplement, restoring en-ergy function during exercise. However, sev-eral possible pathways could be responsiblefor lactate production or lactate removal fromthe blood during various exercise protocols.22

Observation of a significant difference in postexercise lactic acid levels may indicate (1)that lactate clearance was increased or (2) thatlactate production was reduced. Additionalbiochemical studies in a similar trial are nec-essary to ascertain which lactate-relatedmechanisms may be involved with the use ofthe supplement.

In summary, Microhydrin may positively af-fect lactate metabolism during exercise andmay induce a glycogen-sparing effect andtherefore should benefit performance and en-durance exercise.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to thank Patrick Flanagan, the in-ventor of Flanagan Microclusters® and Micro-hydrin™, for his assistance and contribution tothe Microhydrin tested.

The authors thank the cyclists for their par-ticipation in the study. This project was fundedby Royal BodyCare, Inc. Irving, Texas. We wish

to thank Joe McCord of Webb-Waring Antiox-idant Research Institute, University of Col-orado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Col-orado, for the antioxidant studies.

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Address reprint requests to:Kimberly L. Purdy Lloyd

Royal BodyCare, Inc.2301 Crown Court

Irving, TX 75038

E-mail: klloyd@rbcglobenet.com

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