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Healthcare providers have found boron useful in maintaining calcium and magnesium levels, which promote bone health, improving mental function and enhancing fine motor skills, as an aid in increasing testosterone and estrogen, and in treating osteoarthritis. Dr. Luke Bucci, who holds a doctorate in biochemistry and cell biology, recommends maintenance of

In 1982, Dr. R.E. Newnham made an interesting observation about decreased levels of boron in the human diet and the increased incidence of degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis. Dr. Newnham, who lives in Australia, noticed that in populations, where levels of boron in the soil were high, fewer reports of osteoarthritis occurred. He also studied bone mineral composition and found that arthritic patients averaged 30 micrograms (millionths of a gram) of boron per gram of bone material compared to 56 micrograms per gram for normal test subjects. He also noted that, in large agricultural areas, the increase in phosphate fertilizers decreased boron levels in the soil^II.

Years later, in 1991, he published the results of some further research performed with populations throughout various regions of the world, again comparing boron intake and rates of incidence of arthritis. The results were quite enlightening. He found that in

The following graph shows several geographic areas, the average boron intake in each area, and the percentages of arthritis^III.

When addressing regions of the United States with soil trace mineral deficiencies, I’d like to quote Rodale’s 1972 book. "In a large part of America, extending from Maine across the top of the country to Washington, iodine deficiencies are widespread, particularly in Montana. There are also extensive areas where the soil is low in manganese, copper and zinc. A lack of boron in plants is found along the Atlantic coastal plain, the northwest Pacific and also in Wisconsin. Manganese deficiencies are especially acute in Florida, and also found in the muck soils of Michigan, the Atlantic coastal plan and California. A lack of copper is prevalent in the Great Lakes region, Washington, South Carolina, Florida, and California. Recent studies indicate that trace element shortages are more extensive than previously thought, and some are growing even more pronounced because modern agricultural practices withdraw soil reserves without replacing them.^IV"

In 1990, Richard Travers, M.D. completed a double-blind placebo study with osteoarthritic patients using doses of 6 milligrams per day. During the eight-week study 5 patients were given the boron and 5 patients were given a placebo. At the end of the study all five of the treated group had significantly improved while only one of the placebo group improved. There were no side effects^V.

In another very important study performed by Dr. Nielsen at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, which is associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This study was the first to show the effects of boron on bone metabolism. He chose 12 postmenopausal women ages from 48 to 82, and put them on a boron-restricted diet for 119 days. Following this period, he supplemented their diets with 3 milligrams of boron for an additional 48 days. Measurements of bone mineral metabolism included urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, and blood serum levels of estradiol and testosterone.