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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217898

Title: Is Boron Nutritionally Relevant?

Author
item Nielsen, Forrest - Frosty

Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2008
Publication Date: 3/27/2008
Citation: Nielsen, F.H. 2008. Is Boron Nutritionally Relevant?. Nutrition Reviews. 66(4):183-191.

Interpretive Summary: Evidence from numerous laboratories using a variety of experimental models, including humans, shows that boron is a bioactive beneficial element. Much evidence has come from studies that did not require nutritional or environmental stressors or fastidious methods in diet preparation or environmental control. The evidence includes deprivation studies showing that boron is necessary for some higher animals to complete the life cycle, and that realistic low boron intakes result in impaired bone health, brain function and immune response. Thus, low boron intake is a relevant nutritional concern, which diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and pulses can prevent.

Technical Abstract: Evidence from numerous laboratories using a variety of experimental models, including humans, shows that boron is a bioactive beneficial element. Much evidence has come from studies that did not require nutritional or environmental stressors or fastidious methods in diet preparation or environmental control. The evidence includes deprivation studies showing that boron is necessary for some higher animals to complete the life cycle, and that realistic low boron intakes result in impaired bone health, brain function and immune response. Thus, low boron intake is a relevant nutritional concern, which diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and pulses can prevent.