Boron

I.  Physiological Role

1. B is essential for plants
2. B may be involved in mineral metabolism of animals
   1. B may be important in preventing osteoporosis in humans (FASEB J. 1:394, 1987; 5:2661, 1991)
      1. B supplementation reduced urinary excretion of Ca, Mg and P, especially when dietary Mg was low
      2. B elevated serum 17b-estradiol and testosterone suggesting urinary loss of Ca, Mg, and P was prevented through endocrine mechanisms
      3. Supplementation of a low B diet induced changes in postmenopausal women consistent with prevention of Ca loss and bone demineralization.
   2. A B X Mg interaction in rats was characterized by more marked deficiency signs of one element when the other element was also deficient
      1. Signs of B deficiency were more marked when the diet was marginal in methionine and luxuriant in arginine
      2. Signs of B deprivation include depressed growth, depressed bone Mg and elevated organ/body weight ratios for spleen and kidney
   3. Dietary B reduces detelerious effects of vitamin D deficiency
3. Could high B intakes from alfalfa contribute to milk fever in dairy cows?

Boron — B (atomic number 5)

A trace element. It is not a classic “essential vitamin,” but small amounts show up in bone and steroid-hormone research. Food plants grown in boron-containing soil are the usual source.

Vitamins, Major Elements, Trace Elements, Toxic Elements

Vitamins

Vitamin A	Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)	Vitamin B6	Vitamin B12	Vitamin C
Vitamin D	Vitamin E	Vitamin K	Biotin
Folic Acid

Major Elements

Calcium	Magnesium	Phosphorus	Sodium, Potassium, Chloride
Sulfur (Sulfer)

Trace Elements

Boron	Chromium	Cobalt	Copper
Fluorine	Iodine	Iron	Manganese
Molybdenum	Nickel (Nickle)	Selenium	Silicon
Tin	Vanadium	Zinc	Ultra Trace

Toxic Elements

Aluminum	Arsenic	Cadmium	Lead
Mercury