ARS | Publication request: Growing evidence for human health benefits of boron

Submitted to: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2011
Publication Date: May 9, 2011
Citation: Nielsen, F.H., Meacham, S. 2011. Growing evidence for human health benefits of boron. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. DOI: 10.1177/2156587211407638.

Technical Abstract: Growing evidence from numerous laboratories using a variety of experimental models shows that boron is a bioactive beneficial, perhaps essential, element for humans. Reported beneficial actions of boron include arthritis alleviation or risk reduction; bone growth and maintenance; central nervous system function; cancer risk reduction; hormone facilitation; and immune response, inflammation and oxidative stress modulation. The diverse effects of boron indicate that it is influencing the formation and/or activity of an entity that is involved in many biochemical processes. Formation of boroesters with the ribose moiety of compounds involved in numerous reactions, such as S-adenosylmethionine and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) might be the reason for boron bioactivity. Both animal and human data suggest that boron intakes should be >1.0 mg/day. Many people consume less than this amount. Thus, a low boron intake should be considered a health concern, which diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and pulses can prevent.