Chemically uncombined boron, which is classed as a metalloid, is found in small amounts in meteoroids, but is not found naturally on Earth. Industrially, very pure boron is produced with difficulty, as boron tends to form refractory materials containing small amounts of carbon or other elements.
In biology, borates have low toxicity in mammals (similar to table salt), but are more toxic to arthropods and are used as insecticides. Boric acid is mildly antimicrobial, and a natural boron-containing organic antibiotic is known.
Boron is essential to life. Small amounts of boron compounds play a strengthening role in the cell walls of all plants, making boron necessary in soils.
Functions:
Boron is a vital trace mineral that is required for the normal growth and health of the body. Many dangerous conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis are naturally managed by Boron, and it helps to reduce menopausal symptoms as well. It is believed that boron improves the natural ability of the human body to handle phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.
Boron is also important for its role in converting vitamin D into its active form. Furthermore, boron may be important in decreasing body calcium loss by increasing the beneficial effects of estrogen on bone health.
Boron is used for building strong bones, treating osteoarthritis, as an aid for building muscles and increasing testosterone levels, and for improving thinking skills and muscle coordination.
It also seems to increase estrogen levels in older (post-menopausal) women and healthy men. Estrogen is thought to be helpful in maintaining healthy bones and mental function.
Women sometimes use capsules containing boric acid, the most common form of boron, inside the vagina to treat yeast infections.
People also apply boric acid to the skin as an astringent or to prevent infection; or use it as an eye wash.
The effectiveness ratings for BORON are as follows:
Likely effective for
Preventing boron deficiency.
Possibly effective for vaginal infections. Some research shows that boric acid, used inside the vagina, can successfully treat yeast infections (candidiasis), including infections that don’t seem to resolve with other treatments. However, the quality of this research is in question.
Possibly ineffective for athletic performance.
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for osteoarthritis. Developing research suggests that boron might be useful for decreasing symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Improving thinking and coordination in older people. There is some evidence that taking boron by mouth might improve cognitive function and the ability to coordinate small muscle movements (fine motor skills) in older people.
Bone loss (osteoporosis).
Increasing testosterone.
Other conditions.
What food boron is found in:
Fruits like apples, oranges, red grapes, pears, plums, kiwis, sultanas, dates, as well as certain vegetables, avocado, soybeans and nuts are rich sources of boron. Chickpeas, borlotti beans, hazel nuts, currants, peanut butter, red kidney beans, tomato, lentils, olive, onion, potato wine, and beer are also notable sources of Boron.
Boron content of some common foods:
Fruits
Apple, red with peel, raw 2.73Apple juice 1.88
Apple sauce 2.83
Banana, raw 3.72
Cherries, dark 1.47
Grape juice 2.02
Orange juice 0.41
Peaches, canned 1.87
Pears, canned 1.22
Dried fruits
Dates 9.2
Prunes 27
Raisins 25
Vegetables
Beans, green 0.46Broccoli, flowers 1.85
Broccoli, stalks 0.89
Lettuce, iceberg 0.015
Carrots, canned 0.75
Nuts
Almonds 23Hazelnuts 16
Peanuts 18
Meats
Beef, round, ground, raw 0.015Chicken, breast, ground, raw 0.015
Turkey breast 0.0154
Milk milk products
Cheese, cream 0.015Milk
Cereal grain products
Bread, white, enriched 0.20Cornflakes fortified 0.31
Flour, wheat, white 0.28
Noodles,egg, dry, enriched 0.37
Rice, white, instant 0.015
Spaghetti, dry, enriched 0.015
Miscellaneous
Catsup 0.85Eggs, homogenized 0.015
Honey 7.2
Jelly, strawberry 0.41
Jelly, grape 1.47
Sugar, white 0.015
Beverages Boron concentration in µg/ml
Wine 3.5Beer 1.8
Source & © IPCS Environmental Health Criteria for Boron (EHC 204), chapter 5.2.4 "Dietary intake"
http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/ghi/ipcs.htm
What symptoms and disorders boron deficiency may cause:
As an ultratrace element, boron is necessary for the optimal health of rats and a boron deficiency not easy to observe, although it is necessary in such small amounts that ultrapurified foods and dust filtration of air is necessary to induce boron deficiency, which manifest as poor coat or hair quality.
Small amounts of boron occur widely in the diet, and the amounts needed in the diet would, by analogy with rodent studies, be very small. The exact physiological role of boron in the animal kingdom is poorly understood.
Although all of the deficiency symptoms of boron are not fully understood, it is known that boron deficiency might result in the abnormal metabolism of calcium and magnesium. Some of the other symptoms include hyperthyroidism, sex hormone imbalance, osteoporosis, arthritis and neural malfunction.
Problems realted to excessive boron doses:
Boron is LIKELY SAFE for adults and children when used in doses less than the Upper Tolerable Limit (UL) (see dosage section below). There is some concern that doses over 20 mg per day, the UL for adults, might harm a man’s ability to father a child.
Large quantities of boron can cause poisoning. Signs of poisoning include skin inflammation and peeling, irritability, tremors, convulsions, weakness, headaches, depression, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms.
Boron might increase estrogen levels in the body. Taking boron along with estrogens might cause too much estrogen in the body.
Boron supplements can lower the amount of magnesium that is flushed out in the urine. This can lead to blood levels of magnesium that are higher than usual. Among older women, this seems to happen more often in women who do not get much magnesium in their diet. Among younger women, the effect appears to be greater in women who exercise less. No one knows how important this finding is to health, or whether it happens in men.
Supplemental boron might reduce blood phosphorus levels in some people.
Boric acid, a common form of boron, is LIKELY SAFE when used vaginally for up to six months. It can cause a sensation of vaginal burning.
Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Boron is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women age 19-50 when used in doses less that 20 mg per day. Pregnant and breast-feeding women age 14 to 18 should not take more than 17 mg per day. Higher amounts may be harmful and should not be used by pregnant women because it has been linked to birth defects. Intravaginal boric acid has been associated with a 2.7- to 2.8-fold increased risk of birth defects when used during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Boron might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, avoid supplemental boron or high amounts of boron from foods.
Kidney disease or problems with kidney function: Don’t take boron supplements if you have kidney problems. The kidneys have to work hard to flush out boron.
Reccomended boron doses for people in the UK:
There is no established RDA for boron, but a recommended amount is typically 3 mg a day, and amounts up to 10 mg a day can be used.