My niece recently mentioned that she is taking Boron for her Osteopenia and that when she did a bit of research, had discovered that there has been evidence at least since the 1960s of the benefits of Boron for bone health.
Of course, this made me curious and I did my own research which is included here today. AND, once again, I am appalled at the information that we post-menopausal women are NOT given to help us heal and reduce our pain. But I’ll save that rant for another time…
Sooooooo many of us are suffering with arthritis, osteoporosis, and other bone issues. What do our doctors want to do? Prescribe medicines with lots of side effects. Well, here’s a newsflash to all doctors out there, there may be another way:
Since 1963, evidence has been accumulating that boron is a safe and effective treatment for some forms of arthritis.
- Findings from numerous observations, epidemiologic and controlled animal and human experiments, have shown evidence of lower boron concentrations in femur heads, bones, and synovial fluid from people with arthritis than from those without.
- Epidemiologic evidence shows that in areas of the world where boron intake is usually 1.0 mg or less/day the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 20 to 70%, whereas in areas of the world where boron intake is usually 3 to 10 mg, the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 0 to 10%.
- Experimental evidence indicates that rats with induced arthritis benefit from orally or intraperitoneally administered boron.
- Experimental evidence from a double-blind, placebo-boron supplementation trial, with 20 subjects suffering from osteoarthritis, obtained significant favorable response to a 6 mg boron/day supplement: 50% of subjects receiving the supplement improved compared to only 10% receiving the placebo.
What this data tells us is that boron is an essential nutrient for healthy bones and joints, and that further research into the use of boron for the treatment or prevention of arthritis has been warranted for more than 50 years!
Boron also can reduce the enzymes that cause an inflammatory response, reducing joint pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.
A 2015 review of the benefits of boron found that greater boron intake (3–10 mg a day) was associated with fewer cases of osteoarthritis, reducing cases by as much as 60% . The review also found that people with osteoarthritis had lower concentrations of boron than people without osteoarthritis.
A 2018 review found that people with rheumatoid arthritis also had lower levels of boron.
Interestingly, this 2018 review also highlighted how boron can support bone health in general, particularly in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis. It may do this by reducing the loss of essential minerals and increasing calcium and vitamin D levels. Despite the many biological functions requiring boron, a recommended daily intake has not been established by the FDA. In the diet, many people do not consume more than one milligram a day, which is certainly a clinical concern. Soils are depleted, and certain fertilizers inhibit boron absorption into plants.
Boron has considerable importance for the health of our bones, and deficiency leads to impaired growth and abnormal bone development. Boron supports bone health in post-menopausal women, reducing the urinary loss of the minerals calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus which are essential for bone-building. Boron also has been shown in this population of women to increase blood concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone, both of which are important for strong bones.
In a different study of post-menopausal women, boron supplementation was observed to decrease calcitonin levels (a hormone that decreases calcium levels) and simultaneously increase levels of calcium and vitamin D.
I’m quite sure that I am not alone in wanting to stop my osteoporosis before it goes any farther.
I am also just one of thousands of post-menopausal women with arthritis. So, today I ordered some boron supplements, and as soon as they arrive I will begin taking them and keep track of my arthritis pain and swelling. I’ll have to wait a bit for my next dexa scan (for bone density) to see how much better my osteoporosis is, but based on the scientific evidence that I found, I’m not waiting for the FDA to decide that we need this important mineral. I’m not even going to consider taking a prescription medication like Fosamax with side effects that ruin the microbiome in my gut either!
If you’re serious about having a healthy and strong body, mind, and spirit well into older age, check out my Pilates for Osteoporosis Prevention classes! We are a fun group of people who work out each week together via Zoom, socialize when we can, and are free to ask questions or receive help and modifications for any condition that causes you trouble. Join this community and become as strong as you want to be!
Here’s an exercise from my Pilates for Osteoporosis Prevention class.
Best of Health,
Kathi
