Diatomaceous earth
There is no good evidence that eating diatomaceous earth detoxes the body or improves health. The only human study on cholesterol was 19 people, had no placebo group, and its authors said placebo-controlled trials were needed.
The main caution is the dust: breathing crystalline silica causes silicosis, and heat-treated (calcined) diatomaceous earth can contain a lot of it, which is why pool-filter grade must never be swallowed or used around the home.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Lowering cholesterolCompare remedies for heart health → | Traditional | One small uncontrolled study in Innsbruck gave 19 adults with moderately raised cholesterol 250 mg diatomaceous earth three times daily for 8 weeks. Total cholesterol fell by 13.2% at its lowest point (week 6), with smaller falls in LDL and triglycerides. There was no placebo group and no repeat by anyone else that we found, so it cannot show the powder caused the change. The authors themselves said placebo-controlled studies were needed. We rate it 1 rather than 2 because a single uncontrolled study is all there is.1 |
| Detox or general cleansing | Traditional | We found no human trial showing diatomaceous earth removes toxins, heavy metals or parasites from the body. The claim rests on its absorbent behaviour in the lab and on tradition, not on trials. |
| Household pest control (bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, stored-grain pests) | Limited | This is the use with a regulatory record, not a health remedy. The US EPA has registered silicon dioxide (diatomaceous earth) as an insecticide since 1960, describing it as abrasive and drying out insects. A review of the pest literature found it works mainly against stored-product pests and some dry-living household insects such as bed bugs. It works slowly and needs dry conditions. EPA's 1991 review judged the human risk low for registered products, but noted applicators can breathe the dust and labels require a dust mask for prolonged use.2,6 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Pool-filter or industrial grade — can contain crystalline silica (cristobalite)
- Breathing the dust — wear a mask and avoid raising a cloud; lung disease risk
- Anyone with lung disease — the dust irritates the airways (NIOSH)
- Swallowing it regularly — one 19-person study is the only human safety data
Known interactions
Questions people ask
What are the benefits of diatomaceous earth?
The only human evidence is one small 1998 study of 19 people, with no placebo group, which saw total cholesterol fall by about 13%. Claims about detox or parasites have no human trial behind them. Its one well-documented use is as an insecticide.
What is the difference between food-grade and pool-grade diatomaceous earth?
Pool-grade is usually heat-treated (calcined), which can convert amorphous silica into crystalline silica such as cristobalite. One silicosis case involved calcined earth with 36% cristobalite. Food-grade products are uncalcined and mostly amorphous, but labels are not a guarantee, so ask for the crystalline silica percentage.
Is it safe to breathe diatomaceous earth dust?
No. Crystalline silica causes silicosis and is a potential occupational carcinogen. OSHA's limit is 50 micrograms per cubic metre and NIOSH's is 0.05 mg per cubic metre. Even amorphous DE dust irritates the lungs, and EPA labels call for a dust mask.
Does diatomaceous earth kill bed bugs and ants at home?
It can, slowly. The EPA has registered it as an insecticide since 1960, and reviews find it works best on stored-grain pests and some dry-living insects such as bed bugs. It needs a dry, thin layer and time. Apply it carefully and wear a dust mask.
Sources (6)
- Clinical study Wachter H, Lechleitner M, Artner-Dworzak E, et al. Diatomaceous earth lowers blood cholesterol concentrations. Eur J Med Res. 1998.
- Regulator/health agency US EPA. R.E.D. Facts: Silicon Dioxide and Silica Gel. September 1991.
- Regulator/health agency NIOSH. Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Silica, crystalline (as respirable dust).
- Case report Barbieri PG, Somigliana A, Carradori G. Severe silicosis due to diatomaceous earth in dental alginate: a necropsy study. Med Lav. 2020.
- Cohort study Park R, Rice F, Stayner L, et al. Exposure to crystalline silica, silicosis, and lung disease other than cancer in diatomaceous earth industry workers: a quantitative risk assessment. Occup Environ Med. 2002.
- Review Zeni V, Baliota GV, Benelli G, et al. Diatomaceous Earth for Arthropod Pest Control: Back to the Future. Molecules. 2021.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.