Boron for Health
Boron's activity and uses
Boron is a fairly common mineral (abundance about the same as that of zinc) which was found, around the turn of the century, to be essential for optimum health. Its precise chemistry in the human body is as yet unknown, but it appears that its action is on the metabolism of various steroid hormones. These include the sex hormones, cortisone and vitamin D. (Vitamin D is a rather odd vitamin; most of the vitamins have roles in various parts of the metabolism, but vitamin D has hormone action.)
At any rate, deficiency in boron leads to various distortions in metabolism, such as greatly increased loss of calcium and magnesium in the urine and the formation of abnormal mineral deposits such as calcification of the tendons and ligaments and abnormalities in the shape of bones - such as heel spurs and spondulitis.
Deficiency in boron can also lead to irregular swings in levels of the various sex hormones - or at least make such swings, happening for other reasons such as menopause, worse.
The requirement for boron is quite small (the best estimate is about 3mg per day in an adult human) and it is quite widespread, but the requirement may well be higher in certain circumstances such as the menopause.
Foods high in boron are essentially all plant foods. For some reason, apples are particularly high in boron. This may be one of the reasons for the traditional use of cider vinegar in arthritis.
The form of boron in supplements is very important; organic boron (citrate and chelate) is much better than boric acid or borax. Unfortunately, the latter two forms are now the only forms legal for use in supplements in the EU.
When using boron supplements to help with any of the medical problems, it might help to take up to triple the dose (9mg or 3x3mg per day) for a short time - perhaps about a month.
To sum up, boron can be used for:
Menopausal symptoms
Osteoarthritis (sometimes)
Tendonitis and bursitis (chronic)
Bone malformations (spondulitis, heel spurs)
For all these uses, take 3mg 3 times per day for about a month, then 3mg per day. Ideally, use organic forms such as citrate or chelate.