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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #131353
Title: DIETARY BORON ALLEVIATES GROWTH CARTILAGE ABNORMALITIES INDUCED BY VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN CHICKS

Author
item Hunt, Curtiss

Submitted to: Trace Elements in Man and Animals International Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2002
Publication Date: 5/1/2003
Citation: Hunt, C.D. 2003. Dietary boron alleviates growth cartilage abnormalities induced by vitamin D deficiency in chicks. Journal of Nutrition. v.133(5S-1). p.230E-231E.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous research has shown that dietary boron affects several physiological indices in vitamin D (Vit D) deficient chicks including growth cartilage maturation. Furthermore, boron, independent of Vit D, had an effect on the morphology of the mineralization zone of the chick growth plate. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the interaction nbetween boron and Vit D as it affects bone histology. Day-old cockerel chicks were fed a diet containing 0.08 mg B/kg and adequate in all other vitamins and minerals. Five of the dietary treatments were 125 IU Vit D3/kg (inadequate) and supplemental boron to achieve final concentrations of 0.09, 0.25, 0.65, 1.63, or 4.08 mg B/kg, all within a physiological range. The other three dietary treatments were 625 IU Vit D3/kg (adequate) and supplemental boron to achieve 0.07, 0.63, and 4.26 mg B/kg. Midpoint heights of the articular cartilage (AC) and of the epiphysial growth plate (GP) and calcified zone (CZ) were obtained by image analysis at low level magnification (~6.5 X). A range of dietary boron affects growth plate morphology in Vit D-inadequate, but not Vit D-adequate chicks. For example, progressive increases in the amount of dietary boron added to a low-boron diet provided overall reduction in the heights of the abnormally thickened growth plate (GP); (P<0.001; R2 = 0.16)and improved height of the calcified zone (CZ); (P<0.03; R2 = 0.07). In other words, dietary boron ameliorated the defects in cartilage maturation and calcification induced by Vit D deficiency. These findings provide further indirect evidence that dietary boron enhances the metabolic utilization of Vit D.