Boron prevents osteoporosis

A trace mineral found mostly in foods of plant origin may hold the key to preventing osteoporosis, a crippling bone disease that affects millions of women worldwide.

Researchers said boron – an essential element in many plant species – may be good for humans as well following the results of several published studies that show its numerous benefits.

Foremost of these is boron’s anti-osteoporosis effect. In 1987, researchers reported on the effects of dietary boron in 12 postmenopausal women aged 48 and 82.

For the first 17 weeks, the women were given a low-boron diet that was later supplemented with three milligrams of boron daily for another seven weeks.

"About eight days after receiving boron supplementation, the women markedly reduced their excretion of both calcium and magnesium. They also were found to have significant increases (about twofold) in the production of an active form of estrogen and also testosterone," according to Dr. Sheldon Saul Hendler in The Doctors’ Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia.

"This work suggests that supplementation of a low-boron diet with boron causes changes in postmenopausal women consistent with the prevention of calcium loss and bone demineralization," Hendler adds.

For women who are concerned about their health, it pays to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables that are rich sources of boron. A more convenient way of getting boron is to take Mosvit, the complete multivitamin and mineral tablet with the boron factor advantage. Mosvit is locally distributed by Multicare Pharmaceuticals Phils. Inc. (tel. no. 811-0636).