Boron

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Boron is the subject of a lot of medical and scientific studies that show it is

an essential trace element. Boron is essential to animals and plants. It is

found in tomatoes, pears, prunes, raisins, dates, berries, apples, citrus fruits

and avocados. Wine, Soya, nuts, and honey are also rich in boron.

At the moment, there is no RDA for boron, but it has been calculated that 1-2mg

of boron per day may meet the human requirement.

Most people consume between 1 and 2mg of boron each day, although intakes of

only 0.25mg have been seen.

The levels of boron in fruit and veg depends on the levels of the mineral in the

soil.

Mauritius and Jamaica have low levels of boron and may not get enough boron in

their diet.

The levels of the mineral in the blood and tissues are sensitive to the

variations in the diet from day to day, and vegetarians may benefit from the

higher levels of boron in their diet from the vegetables.

The main role of boron in the body is unknown, but it appears to be important in

preventing and treating osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

People with rheumatoid arthritis or similar joint diseases have significantly

lower levels of boron in their bones, when compared to healthy people.

Workers in New Zealand found that a daily supplement of 6-9mg of boron would

reverse the symptoms in 80-90 per cent of patients within a few weeks of

treatment.

Boron was also found to cure arthritis in cattle, dogs and horses.

Boron, in the form of borax has been used to help arthritis in New Zealand and

Australia.

Countries like Israel, which has high levels of boron in the soil, have

virtually no incidence of arthritis, while Jamaica and Mauritius have low soil

boron levels and a high incidence of arthritis.

Studies completed by the U.S. department of Agriculture show that a supplement

of 3mg of boron reduces the amounts of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus

excreted in the urine of post-menopausal women.

An additional benefit of this therapy was that oestrogen levels in the blood

were increased by 100 per cent after only eight days of treatment.

This is of great importance as oestrogen reduces demineralisation of bones after

the menopause.

All this evidence points to the idea that dietary deficiency of boron may be

involved in osteoporosis in women after the menopause.

It would seem that a supplement of 3mg of boron each day would help both prevent

and treat osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Boron may benefit people with allergic reactions as people who suffer from

allergic rashes generally have low levels of boron present in their skin.