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Title: BORON IN THE TYPICAL DIET: A PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE FOR BONE HEALTH, REPRODUCTION AND INSULIN METABOLISM

Author
item Hunt, Curtiss

Submitted to: Nutrition and the MD
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Hunt, C. 2006. Boron in the typical diet: a physiological role for bone health, reproduction and insulin metabolism. Nutrition and the MD. 32(11):1-8.

Interpretive Summary: Boron has long been recognized as essential for all higher plants and is essential for at least some species in all phylogenetic kingdoms. Therefore, it is not surprising that diets very low in boron perturb physiological processes in humans as well as animal models of human nutrition including, frogs, zebrafish, chicks, rats, and pigs. The effects of low boron nutriture are manifest as perturbations in reproduction and insulin and bone metabolism in vertebrates. Boron has defined structural roles in biomolecules synthesized by lower life forms. Overall, the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the beneficial physiologic effects of boron across the phylogenetic spectrum are poorly understood. However, the unique nature of boron biochemistry suggests specific lines of investigation. In particular, further characterization of the various cell signaling molecules that form complexes with boron under physiological conditions should provide insights into the specific biochemical function(s) of boron in humans. Boron is a natural constituent of the diet and adult Americans consume slightly less than 1.0 mg per day on average. As with all other essential elements, boron produces toxicity in all tested biological organisms when excessive amounts are absorbed.

Technical Abstract: Boron has long been recognized as essential for all higher plants and is essential for at least some species in all phylogenetic kingdoms. Therefore, it is not surprising that diets very low in boron perturb physiological processes in humans as well as animal models of human nutrition including, frogs, zebrafish, chicks, rats, and pigs. The effects of low boron nutriture are manifest as perturbations in reproduction and insulin and bone metabolism in vertebrates. Boron has defined structural roles in biomolecules synthesized by lower life forms. Overall, the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the beneficial physiologic effects of boron across the phylogenetic spectrum are poorly understood. However, the unique nature of boron biochemistry suggests specific lines of investigation. In particular, further characterization of the various cell signaling molecules that form complexes with boron under physiological conditions should provide insights into the specific biochemical function(s) of boron in humans. Boron is a natural constituent of the diet and adult Americans consume slightly less than 1.0 mg per day on average. As with all other essential elements, boron produces toxicity in all tested biological organisms when excessive amounts are absorbed.