Nutrition & bone health
Key minerals for bone health — boron
by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Boron is another element on our list of 20 key nutrients that has been discovered only in recent years to be essential
to bone health. The body requires boron for proper metabolism and utilization of
various bone-building factors, including calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, estrogen,
and perhaps testosterone. Though results have been somewhat mixed and the mechanisms
have yet to become clear, studies overall show that boron has a mineral-conserving
and estrogen-enhancing effect, especially among women with low magnesium intake.
Lead researchers now consider boron important for the utilization and metabolism
of calcium and vitamin D, as well as for overall hormonal balance.
Though RDA’s for
boron have yet to be established, we know that our ancestors consumed much more
of this nutrient than most of us do today. Excessive boron in the supplemental form
can be toxic, but there’s no need to restrict boron from our food sources.
It’s easy enough to consume as much as 10 mg per day with a diet plentiful
in fruits, veggies, and nuts, and this could in part account for a lower osteoporosis
rate among vegetarians. In fact, there are places in the world where people consume
as much as four times this amount without adverse effects.
Return to table
Our Personal Program is a great place to start
At the Center for Better Bones we promote an all-natural approach to bone regeneration
and repair that includes nutrition, diet, exercise, and lifestyle guidance. Our
Personal Program is a convenient, at-home version of this approach.
- To assess your fracture risk and the health of your bones, take our free, on-line
Fracture Risk and Bone Health Profile.
- To learn more about the guided, at-home Program we have developed with America’s
premier women’s health clinic, Women to Women, go to
The Personal Program for Better Bones.
- For more information about the at-home program for Better Bones, please call The
Personal Program toll-free at 1-877-200-1269.
Original Publication Date: 04/11/2000
Last Modified: 04/14/2010
Principal Author: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD