Boron Deficiency

Boron deficiency has not been firmly established, but there are certain factors which increase the need for boron and may cause a deficiency:

  • People with vitamin D deficiency
    People with a deficiency in vitamin D may have an increased requirement for boron, due to the necessary and important function that both vitamin D and boron have on bone health.
  • People with magnesium deficiency
    People with a deficiency in magnesium may have an increased requirement for boron, due to the necessary and important function that both magnesium and boron have on bone health.
  • People with methionine deficiency
    People with a deficiency in methionine may have an increased requirement for boron, due to the necessary function that both vitamin D and boron have on bone health.
  • People with fluoride toxicity
    People with an excess (or toxicity) of fluoride may have an increased requirement for boron, because boron has a beneficial effect on the bones, whereas an excessive amount of fluoride has a detrimental and damaging effect on teeth. Boron may neutralise the damaging effects of excessive and toxic fluoride levels.
  • People with Kashin-Beck disease
    Recent research has suggested that boron deficiency could be a contributing factor to Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), a musculoskeletal deficiency, which may cause severe joint deformity. Kashin-Beck disease affects children in China and the former Soviet Union and is also linked to selenium deficiency.
People with a deficiency in magnesium may have an increased requirement for boron, due to the necessary and important function that both magnesium and boron have on bone health

Boron Deficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of boron deficiency include:

  • Decreased cognitive function
  • Decreased blood steroid hormone levels
  • Reduced growth rate

Studies have shown that reduced boron intake over the short term, can cause decreased cognitive (learning, remembering) functions in otherwise healthy people.

Animal studies have shown that a deficiency in boron causes decreased blood levels of the steroid hormones (testosterone, oestrogen, aldosterone, cortisol, DHEA).

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