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The trace mineral boron is a micronutrient with diverse and vitally important roles in metabolism that render it necessary for plant, animal, and human health, and as recent research suggests, possibly for the evolution of life on Earth.

RNA = Ribonucleic acid

Ribose is the only sugar present in both early RNA-based biochemistry and contemporary DNA-based life. Therefore, the stability of ribose is of fundamental concern for determining the origin of early RNA-based biochemistry. Without boron’s stabilizing influence, ribose is the least stable of all the aldopentoses produced by the formose reaction.

FOOD SOURCES

mg/100g

Avocado 2.06
Apricots 2.11
Currants 1.74
Grapes 0.50
Peach 0.52
Prunes 1.88
Raisins 4.51
Almonds 2.82
Brazil nuts 1.72
Cashew nuts 1.15
Hazelnuts 2.77
Peanut butter 1.92
Pistachio nuts 1.20
Walnuts 1.63

KNOWN BENEFITS

Bone Growth and Maintenance

Boron plays an important role in osteogenesis, and its deficiency has been shown to adversely impact bone development and regeneration.2 Boron influences the production and activity of steroid hormones, actions via which this trace mineral is involved in the prevention of calcium loss and bone demineralization. Boron supplementation has repeatedly been shown to markedly reduce urinary excretion of both calcium and magnesium and to increase serum levels of estradiol and calcium absorption in peri and postmenopausal women.1,3 Boron also beneficially impacts vitamin-D utilization. Supplementation with boron stimulates bone growth in vitamin-D deficient animals and alleviates dysfunctions in mineral metabolism characteristic of vitamin-D deficiency.

Wound Healing

The most common cells in animal connective tissue, fibroblasts synthesize the extracellular matrix and collagen and play a critical role in wound healing. Boron facilitates the activity of these key enzymes in fibroblasts, thus improving extracellular-matrix turnover.

Expression of Extracellular-matrix Proteins

Boron was also found to increase mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).11 Several other researchers have now confirmed that boron regulates protein levels of key BMPs—BMP-4, BMP-6, and BMP-7—plus the mRNA expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2).

Regulation of Sex Hormones

Increased levels of sex steroids have been demonstrated in both men and women after boron supplementation.1,20

Testosterone more than doubled, rising from an average of 0.31 ng/mL to 0.83 ng/mL. Similar increases were seen in the women on an adequate-magnesium diet: E2 rose from an average of 15.5 pg/mL to 38.0 pg/mL, and testosterone increased from 0.38 ng/mL to 0.65 ng/mL.

the elevation of unbound free testosterone seen with boron supplementation may have significant beneficial ramifications, particularly in aging men

Prevention of Vitamin-D Deficiency

How does boron exert its hormonal effects? In sum, boron increases the biological half-life and bioavailability of E2 and vitamin D.

Magnesium Absorption

Boron significantly improves magnesium absorption and deposition in bone. Magnesium’s importance, in bone alone, is illustrative of the widespread ramifications of boron insufficiency.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Is boron adequacy important? Consider that elevated hs-CRP is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer,38 obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children,39 atherosclerosis, unstable angina, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes,40,41 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),42,43 metastatic prostate cancer,44 lung cancer,45 adult depression, depression in childhood and psychosis in young adult life,46,47 coronary heart disease, and stroke.48–51

Brain Activation and Psychological Function

Assessments of brain electrical activity in both animals and humans have shown that boron deprivation 0.12 ug/g in the diet as boric acid results in decreased brain electrical activity.70

Heavy-metal Toxicity

All boron-tested compounds (5–20 ppm) significantly reduced all genotoxic effects that were induced by low doses of heavy metals.

Production of Key Biomolecules

boron-containing biomolecules include those that contain ribose (eg, S-adenosyl methionine [SAM-e], diadenosine phosphates, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [NAD+]). These biomolecules are key players required in a multitude of fundamental biochemical processes.72,73

Anticancer Effects

Boron-rich diets and regions where the soil and water are rich in boron correlate with lower risks of several types of cancer, including prostate, breast, cervical, and lung cancers.

Boron-containing compounds interfere with the physiology and reproduction of cancer cells through diverse mechanisms, including inhibition of serine proteases, NAD-dehydrogenases, mRNA splicing and cell division, receptor binding mimicry, and induction of apoptosis.81