Boron Info: What is Boron and How Does it Affect the Body?

What is Boron?

Boron is a trace mineral that is found in the body in very small amounts. Although it is not considered to be an essential nutrient, studies have shown that it may play a role in several important metabolic processes, including bone and joint health and mental function.

What Does Boron Do?

Boron offers many health benefits. It is involved in the regulation of essential elements and minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, and therefore plays a key role in keeping bones and teeth healthy. Boron may also contribute to bone health by helping to convert vitamin D to an active form, and decreasing the rate at which calcium is excreted in the urine.

There is evidence that boron is involved in the regulation of hormone levels in the blood, including estrogen and testosterone, and it may contribute to lowered rates of prostate cancer. Increased serum estrogen levels in conjunction with decreased calcium loss may help to alleviate or prevent symptoms of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

In geographical areas where there are high concentrations of boron in the soil and therefore more boron present in local fruits and vegetables, there is a lower incidence of arthritis. This evidence suggests that boron may be useful in the prevention and treatment of arthritis.

Some studies suggest that boron may play a role in mental function and cognitive performance, including attention, perception, short and long term memory, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity.

Getting Enough Boron in your Diet

Boron has not been established as an essential nutrient, and there is no official Recommended Daily Allowance for boron. Boron deficiencies have not been documented for humans, but deficiency in animals has been linked to slow growth rates and lowered levels of hormones in the blood. It is estimated that in a normal diet that includes fruits and vegetables, adults consume from 1 to 3 mg of boron per day, which is considered a sufficient amount.

Getting an adequate daily amount of boron can be accomplished by eating leafy vegetables, legumes, and non-citrus fruits such as apples, bananas, cherries, peaches and pears. Raisins are an excellent source of boron, as are prunes, dates, and nuts. Peanuts, almonds and hazel nuts contain the highest amount of boron, and it is also found in brazil nuts, walnuts and raw cashews. The amount of boron in fruits and vegetables will vary according to how much boron is in the soil where they were grown.

Boron is toxic at doses exceeding 100 mg per day, and can cause symptoms including fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, and convulsions, as well as kidney and nerve damage. Doses of 15-20 grams of boron have been known to be fatal. Always consult a health care professional before taking any supplements.