IngredientsDiatomaceous earth (DE), also known as diatomite, kieselguhr (or kieselgur), celite, and historically as infusorial earth, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock. It can be crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It is a naturally occurring sand extracted from the earth, consisting of microscopic skeletons of algae, known as diatoms, that have fossilized over millions of years.
DE comprises primarily the skeletal remains (frustules) of diatoms, a type of single-celled plant generally found in stable bodies of water, such as oceans, seas, and lakes. Diatomaceous earth comes from diatoms, microscopic single-celled algae, of which there are 16,000 species and counting; they live in fresh water, salt water, and soils. Diatoms are single-celled algae with hard, glass-like shells made of silica. When they die, their microscopic skeletons accumulate on the beds of lakes, rivers, and oceans. Over thousands to millions of years, these deposits compress into a soft, chalky sedimentary rock.
The term "kieselguhr" originates from German, where "kiesel" means flint or pebble, and "guhr" refers to a loose, earthy deposit — aptly describing its texture and composition, reflecting its siliceous nature. Diatomaceous earth is classified as a biogenic sedimentary rock, primarily composed of opaline silica, and is distinct from other silica deposits due to its biological origin, as it forms from the accumulation of diatom frustules.
The typical chemical composition of oven-dried diatomaceous earth is 80–90% silica, with 2–4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals), and 0.5–2% iron oxide. The chemicals and substances found in diatomaceous earth depend on where it came from, and the amounts of each chemical, including silica, in a specific product may vary. While food-grade diatomaceous earth is predominantly composed of silica, the trace minerals it contains — such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, and boron — can provide minor dietary benefits.
Not all diatomaceous earth is equivalent in composition, safety, or regulatory status. There are two principal commercial grades with substantially different properties:
Milled or micronized diatomaceous earth is a very fine substance used in pesticides and insecticides; calcined diatomaceous earth is a heat-treated and activated form used in liquid filtering and explosives. For dietary supplement use, food-grade DE is available as a loose powder, in capsule form, and as tablet preparations.
In its earliest known use, diatomite was employed as a pigment in cave paintings in Europe that date back as far as 40,000 years ago. Deposits are found all over the world and have a very long history of utilization, such as being used to make bricks by the ancient Greeks and being used to brush teeth in ancient Mesopotamia.
In ancient Greece, a profound connection with nature was integral, and the Greeks, renowned for their contributions to medicine and philosophy, also delved into the practical benefits of natural resources; diatomaceous earth, primarily composed of fossilized diatom skeletons, did not escape their keen observation. Ancient Greek applications included water filtration, agricultural soil improvement, and personal hygiene.
A landmark moment in the modern history of diatomaceous earth came in the nineteenth century. In 1866, Alfred Nobel discovered that nitroglycerin could be made more stable if absorbed in diatomite (kieselgur in German), which allowed safer transport and handling than pure nitroglycerin in liquid form. Nobel patented this mixture as dynamite in 1867; the mixture is also called guhr dynamite in reference to the kieselgur. Kieselguhr, a fossilized diatomaceous earth, is highly porous and can absorb up to three times its weight in nitroglycerin, forming a putty-like substance.
The Celle engineer Wilhelm Berkefeld recognized the ability of diatomaceous earth to filter and developed tubular filters (known as filter candles) fired from diatomaceous earth; during the cholera epidemic in Hamburg in 1892, these Berkefeld filters were used successfully.
Modern industrial use of diatomite began in the mid to late 1800s and expanded early in the 20th century when it was discovered that the filtration properties of the material could be modified through thermal treatment. The use of DE as a dietary supplement for humans is relatively recent, with growing consumer interest emerging primarily in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
The primary constituent of both food-grade and industrial diatomaceous earth is silicon dioxide (SiOâ‚‚), also referred to as silica. Food-grade diatomaceous earth, or amorphous silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, and the chemical composition of food-grade diatomaceous earth is primarily amorphous silica. Silicon, the non-oxidized form of silica, is one of many minerals stored in the human body.
The bioavailability of silica from DE specifically is a critical and unresolved issue. Orthosilicic acid is the form of silicon predominantly absorbed by humans and is found in numerous tissues, including nails, bones, tendons, the aorta, the liver, and the kidneys. However, some conclusions extend beyond the available data, particularly when applying research on bioavailable forms of silica to DE, which is largely insoluble and minimally absorbed. While the body can get silica from foods, it is not clear how much can be absorbed from diatomaceous earth; it is thought to pass through the digestive system quickly, with most excreted as waste.
The distinction between amorphous and crystalline forms of silica is fundamental to understanding DE's safety profile. The bulk of diatomaceous earth is amorphous, not crystalline, and the amorphous form is only associated with mild, reversible lung inflammation. In contrast, silicosis is a progressive, irreversible, and incurable fibrotic lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust. Amorphous silica is considered to have low toxicity.
While food-grade DE is predominantly composed of silica, the trace minerals it contains — such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, and boron — can provide minor dietary benefits. The concentration of these trace minerals varies by deposit and processing method.
DE has a particle size ranging from more than 3 mm to less than 1 μm, but typically 10 to 200 μm. Depending on the granularity, this powder can have an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and has a low density as a result of its high porosity. In addition to its high silica content and porous structure, food-grade DE possesses other notable physical and chemical properties, including low density, heat resistance, low thermal conductivity, and an ability to act as a pH stabilizer.
The principal mechanism by which DE functions as a pesticide is mechanical rather than chemical: diatomaceous earth works as an insecticide by removing the insect's waxy outer coating from its exoskeleton, causing dehydration and death; research also suggests that products containing DE may be effective in killing mites, parasites, and internal worms when used in combination with other insecticide methods.
The concern about DE's abrasive quality, which allows it to function as a mechanical insecticide against pests, does not translate to harm in the human gut: the abrasive quality is directed at the waxy outer layer of insects, causing them to dry out, while the human digestive tract, with its protective mucosal lining, is resistant to this physical action.
This is the area with the most direct human clinical evidence, though that evidence remains limited to a single small study.
During 12 weeks, researchers monitored serum lipid concentrations in 19 healthy individuals with a history of moderate hypercholesterolemia (9 females, 10 males, aged 35–67 years). The subjects were orally administered 0.25 grams of diatomaceous earth three times a day for 2 months while being observed. Compared to baseline (285.8 ± 37.5 mg/dl = 7.40 ± 0.97 mM), diatomaceous earth intake was associated with a significant reduction of serum cholesterol at any time point, reaching a minimum on week 6 (248.1 mg/dl = 6.43 mM, −13.2% from baseline; p<0.001). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (week 4: p<0.05) and triglycerides levels also decreased (week 2: p<0.05, week 4: p<0.01); four weeks after intake of diatomaceous earth was stopped, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides still remained low, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol became significant (p<0.05).
The authors themselves noted the study's limitations: while concluding that diatomaceous earth, as a bioproduct, is capable of reducing blood cholesterol and positively influencing lipid metabolism in humans, they noted that placebo-controlled studies will be necessary to confirm the findings.
Evidence strength: There have not been sufficient studies to support DE as a treatment for high cholesterol; most studies have only been conducted in livestock populations, except for one small human trial. Much more research is needed to confirm these findings, including studies that compare people who take diatomaceous earth with others given a placebo. Animal mechanistic research published more recently has proposed that food-grade DE may reduce intestinal lipid absorption and that food-grade DE is a bioavailable source of silicon with hypolipidemic potential, mainly by reducing intestinal lipid absorption, supported by lower postprandial triglycerides, increased luminal lipid retention, and decreased expression of lipid transport proteins; however, this was based on animal (rat) data, not human evidence.
Considerable evidence accumulated over the past 30 years suggests strongly that dietary silicon plays a major part in bone and connective tissue health; as such, DE may help provide some of this silicon, although the bioavailability of the silicon in DE is unknown.
Research on silica and bone health largely uses other forms of silicon — most notably orthosilicic acid — rather than diatomaceous earth itself. Barel et al. carried out a placebo-controlled experiment to study the effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails, and hair in women with photo-damaged skin; choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid is a bioavailable form of silicon — the most occurring element in diatomaceous earth. In that study, Barel et al. administered 10 mg silicon per day to 48 women of fine hair for nine months and assessed hair morphology and tensile properties prior to and after treatment, finding a significantly smaller decrease in elastic gradient in the silicon supplement group than in the placebo group. These results, however, apply to an absorbed, bioavailable silicon compound and cannot be directly extrapolated to DE.
Some research suggests silicon may contribute to the health and structural integrity of nails, hair, and skin, and taking around 25 mg of silicon per day may have some bone health benefits, but researchers conclude that more research is needed to understand these possible benefits. One review study found a link between the dietary intake of silicon and bone growth and repair, but many scientists say there is not much evidence that silica in diets plays a role in bone health, and it is not clear how much silica can be absorbed from diatomaceous earth.
Evidence strength: Preliminary and indirect. The limited evidence relates to bioavailable forms of silicon, not specifically to silica derived from DE. No controlled human trials have tested DE directly for bone outcomes.
Some research suggests that silicon may contribute to the health and structural integrity of nails, hair, and skin. Because silica is found naturally in hair, teeth, skin, and nails, some believe that adding it to the diet may help improve health, but there is little research to back this up, and it is not clear whether meaningful amounts of silica can be absorbed from diatomaceous earth.
Some older research suggests that silicon supplements may play a role in hair growth and hair loss prevention; however, very limited research has examined the specific link between diatomaceous earth and hair growth. DE is also used externally in cosmetics: diatomaceous earth is an effective ingredient in personal-care products such as exfoliating cleansers, foundation makeup, and toothpaste; these products make use of its abrasive (scrubbing) qualities, which help absorb oil, and its chalky texture helps provide coverage in makeup.
Evidence strength: Anecdotal and mechanistically speculative for internal use. Topical uses in cosmetics are well-established but are distinct from dietary supplementation.
A common marketing claim is that orally ingested DE acts as an internal cleanser or detoxifier. One major health claim is that DE can help detox the body by cleansing the digestive tract, which may be based on its ability to filter heavy metals, bacteria, and sediments from water; however, a 2023 review that suggests silica may help filter out toxins like aluminum has found no human research to verify this mechanism can be applied to human digestion — or that it has any meaningful effect on the digestive system. Detox claims are based on DE's ability to remove heavy metals from water when used as a filter, but there is no evidence that it acts the same way on the digestive system.
Evidence strength: No credible human clinical evidence. The claimed mechanism is an extrapolation from industrial filtration applications and is not validated in human gastrointestinal physiology.
There is no reliable scientific evidence that diatomaceous earth kills parasites in humans; despite widespread claims online, no clinical trials have demonstrated that swallowing food-grade diatomaceous earth eliminates intestinal worms or other human parasites. The FDA has not approved it for this use and has actively issued warning letters to companies marketing it as a "de-wormer."
The theoretical mechanism proposed — that sharp DE particles physically abrade parasites — has a fundamental flaw: insects have a thin, waxy exoskeleton that DE can physically abrade; but internal parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms live in a wet, mucus-rich environment inside the gut and have soft, flexible body walls that are nothing like an insect's exoskeleton — the sharp-edge mechanism that works so well on dry insects has no demonstrated effect on parasites swimming in intestinal fluid.
Animal studies show mixed results: a 2011 study in poultry found dietary DE (2%) reduced some internal parasites in certain breeds, lowered fecal egg counts, and controlled external mites via dusting; but multiple controlled trials in ruminants (sheep, goats, cattle) showed no significant reduction in fecal egg counts or worm burdens, often producing no effect.
Evidence strength: No human clinical evidence. Animal evidence is mixed and does not support translation to human internal parasite management.
A 2023 review suggests that silica may help filter out toxins like aluminum, but no human research verifies that this mechanism can be applied to human digestion or that it has any meaningful effect on the digestive system. At present, human research on DE supplementation is almost entirely anecdotal; while preliminary findings in cholesterol lowering and aluminum binding are intriguing, they stem from uncontrolled, small-scale studies.
Evidence strength: Preliminary and mechanistically speculative for dietary DE specifically. No controlled human trials confirm this effect.
Diatomaceous earth for dietary use is available primarily as a loose powder to be mixed with water or beverages, and also in capsule and tablet forms. Products are available as tablets or capsules instead of powders, which may reduce the risk of inadvertent inhalation.
The only human clinical study to report a specific dosage used the following: in the study that looked at its effect on cholesterol, 19 participants took 250 milligrams of diatomaceous earth three times a day for 8 weeks. (The monitoring period extended to 12 weeks, including a 4-week post-cessation observation phase.)
No recommended daily allowance has been established for silica, the main ingredient in diatomaceous earth. Taking around 25 milligrams of silicon per day may have some bone health benefits, but researchers conclude that more research is needed to understand these possible benefits. This figure relates to silicon generally and is not specific to diatomaceous earth.
For animal feed, regulatory usage levels are defined: in the United States, Food Chemical Codex-compliant DE products are regulated by each state for use in livestock feed as an anti-caking agent and flow aid, in amounts not to exceed two percent of the total diet.
Amorphous silicon dioxide is "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) as a food additive. However, this designation carries important nuance. The use of diatomaceous earth for direct addition to food is not the subject of any food additive regulations in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) or GRAS determinations. Instead, DE is approved for use in food packaging materials, as a filtering aid in food processing, and as an anti-caking agent; this does not mean it has been evaluated or approved as a health supplement — the FDA regulates it as a substance that can safely come into contact with food during production, not as something designed to be consumed on its own for health benefits.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), amorphous silicon dioxide belongs to Group 3 — not a carcinogen.
Inhalation is the primary, well-documented safety concern associated with diatomaceous earth. Inhalation is where diatomaceous earth becomes genuinely dangerous, even in its food-grade form; any fine silica dust irritates the lungs, and repeated exposure can cause lasting damage, with the risk escalating sharply with crystalline silica content.
A quantitative risk assessment published in peer-reviewed literature (based on a cohort of California diatomaceous earth mining and processing workers) found: the excess lifetime risk for white men exposed to respirable cristobalite dust for 45 years at the current OSHA permissible exposure limit was 54 per 1,000 (95% CI 17 to 150). The excess lifetime risk for silicosis at the current PEL was 75 per 1,000. These findings relate to occupational, prolonged, high-level exposures to crystalline silica in an industrial setting — not to occasional supplemental use of food-grade DE.
Long-term inhalation of the crystalline form is associated with silicosis, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. The amorphous form is only associated with mild, reversible lung inflammation. Studies of the fibrogenic potential (silicosis) of diatomaceous earth provide conflicting evidence, with some showing positive results and some showing negative.
In 2016, OSHA set an occupational exposure limit–8-hour time weighted average of 0.05 mg/m³ for respirable crystalline silica and proposed the value of 0.025 mg/m³ as the action value.
Because of the inert nature of amorphous silica, the U.S. FDA has granted food-grade diatomaceous earth the status of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS); it passes through the gastrointestinal tract largely unchanged and is eventually excreted, and this regulatory status permits its use as an anti-caking agent in foods and as a feed additive.
If the powder is accidentally breathed in, it can irritate the nose and lungs; getting the powder in the eyes or on the skin can cause dryness and irritation, and these areas should be washed with water right away.
Products sold for pool filtration or industrial use are a completely different material in terms of safety, even though they share the same base name — the labeling distinction is not merely marketing. Food-grade diatomaceous earth contains up to 2% crystalline silica, while filter-grade, the type used in swimming pool filtration systems, contains around 60% crystalline silica.
Anecdotally, digestive side effects including constipation, bloating, and diarrhea have been reported in association with DE supplementation, particularly when insufficient water is consumed alongside the powder. These effects are described in consumer-experience literature but have not been systematically characterized in controlled clinical trials.
At present, human research on DE supplementation is almost entirely anecdotal, while preliminary findings in cholesterol lowering and aluminum binding are intriguing. Very limited studies have examined any of the possible health effects of diatomaceous earth on humans, so most claims are theoretical and anecdotal. A 2023 review highlighted several potential health benefits of DE, including cholesterol reduction, aluminum detoxification, and support for skin and bone health, but many of the claims are based on early or indirect evidence, such as small human studies or in vitro findings. The overall body of human clinical evidence is thin, and no claim for DE as a dietary supplement has been evaluated or approved by any major regulatory health authority.
Health conditions that Diatomaceous earth may help support.
Body systems that Diatomaceous earth may help support.
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