Boron

The trace mineral boron is necessary for facilitating and boosting the rate of absorption for other minerals in the bodynamely the mineral calcium, the mineral magnesium and phosphorus. The loss of these minerals through the urine is controlled and regulated by the mineral boron. The health of the bones is maintained by boron acting alongside the mineral calcium and the vitamin D – their combined action also prevents the onset of osteoporosis. Food sources that are rich in boron include raisins and almonds, prunes and all fruits in general. The boron content of meat and fish is very low. Boron is best supplied by diets which have plenty of fruits and vegetables, eating such foods offer the body protection against the onset of disorders like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, as well as problems like rheumatoid arthritis. No toxic effects have been evident from the consumption of boron in amounts normally found in supplements.

Though very little is known about the specific mode of action, the evidence from preliminary clinical research seems suggests that boron could possibly affect bone and joint health. The discovery of a connection between the presence of boron and a lowered loss of calcium in the urine is currently the most promising direction for further clinical research. The possibility of preventing osteoporosis could be the beneficial aspect of this discovery, however, till date the reduction in loss of calcium due to boron supplementation has only worked in most cases in people who were not getting enough magnesium through the normal diet.

Boron may also have an important effect on a person’s ability to utilize energy at optimal levels and to think clearly – the specifics of this connection between boron and mental concentration is still to be studied.

The most excellent food sources for the mineral boron are raisins, prunes and nuts. High levels of boron are also typically found in most fruits – other then the citruses, most vegetables and legumes. The content of boron may actually differ widely, as it is dependent on the levels of boron in the soil where the plants are normally cultivated.

The boron intake of people who consume very little fruit and very few vegetables is typically less than the levels of boron found in the body of other people who consume more fruits and vegetables.

 

Usual dosage

The consumption of one mg of boron supplements daily is a reasonable amount according to an expert on nutritional role of the mineral boron. The amount of boron consumed by people who eat adequate amounts of foods like nuts and legumes is likely to be at least two to six times the daily requirement for this mineral. The use of supplements by the average person, therefore, remains unclear as boron deficiencies are almost unheard of and the average diet contains enough of this mineral.

 

Side effects and cautions

Side effects can result on accidental and acute exposure to very high levels of the mineral boron. Physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, acute abdominal pain, a persistent rash, muscular or spasmic convulsions and many other unpleasant symptoms can ensue in such cases. While such physical symptoms are possible on chronic exposure to even the small amounts found in supplements – normally 1 to 3 mg’s per day – these have not been conclusively related to toxic effects in the body. Boron is not accumulated within the body if the doses are taken at supplemental levels – these amounts of the mineral are easily handled by the biochemical pathways existing in the body. The absence of toxic effects in the body is probably linked to the presence of such biochemical pathways.

Estrogen and testosterone levels were actually found to have been heightened by supplementation during the course of one clinical study – a dose of 3 mg of supplemental boron daily was used in the dosage during the course of the study. This heightening of hormone levels is of some concern, the increase in estrogen is of special concern as the risk of several types of cancers have been linked to an increase in the levels of this hormone. Some doctors trained in natural medicine recommend that the intake of supplemental boron is better limited to a maximum daily intake of 1 mg per person – till more is known about the effects of boron supplements on hormone levels in the body.

Scientific knowledge about the real interactions between boron and other minerals in the body is poor and probably very complex – more clinical studies are needed to gain an insight into the various interactions between different minerals. The utilization of minerals like calcium, magnesium and the vitamin D in the body may be conserved and regulated by boron. There are other distinct interactions between various minerals in the body; one study found that the ability of boron to bring about a reduction in the loss of calcium via the urine completely disappeared when the subjects under study were also given supplemental magnesium. The conclusion is that in the presence of adequate amount of magnesium in the diet, the presence of boron may not provide any special benefit towards the maintenance of bone mass and the retention of calcium.