Bone health
Key minerals for bone health — boron
by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Boron is another one of the elements in our list
that has been discovered only in recent years to be essential to bone health. The
body requires boron for proper metabolism and utilization of various bone-building
factors, including calcium,
magnesium, vitamin D, estrogen,
and perhaps testosterone. Though results have been somewhat mixed and the mechanisms
have yet to become clear, studies overall show that boron has a mineral-conserving
and estrogen-enhancing effect, especially among women with low magnesium intake.
Lead researchers now consider boron important in the utilization and metabolism
of calcium and vitamin D, as well as important for overall hormonal balance.
Though RDA’s for boron have yet to be established, we know that our ancestors
consumed much more of this nutrient than most of us do today. Excessive boron in
the supplemental form can be toxic, but there’s no need to restrict boron
from our food sources. It’s easy enough to consume as much as 10 mg per day
with a diet plentiful in fruits, veggies, and nuts, which could account for a lower
osteoporosis rate among vegetarians. In fact, there are places in the world where
people consume as much as four times this amount without adverse effects.
Click here to return to 20 key bone health nutrients.
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Related to this article:
References & further reading on the
20 key bone-building nutrients
Last Modified:
04/18/2011
Principal Author: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD