Over on another thread, down in comments, a discussion of Boron as an arthritis treatment and nutrient has broken out. So I’ve decided to put some information in a posting where it will be easier to find later.
The other thread is:
I went through all the calculations once and made up a solution of borax such that 1/4 tsp of the dilute solution was the correct dose. I’ll see if I can find those notes and add the result here. If not, I’ll work it out again… IIRC it was a close to saturated solution.
Then did some more calculating and realized the amount of borax in a weekly dose was about what would stick to the flatish end surface of a moist finger… (well under 1/8 tsp). So now I mostly just dampen the ‘pinky’ end and ‘dip / lick’… once a week at most is about it for me.
Since the stuff was sold for washing, and folks would soak their hands (and pans) in it for hours “in the old days”, I figure I’m not pushing it that much ;-)
The toxic dose was something like 2 1/2 grams / kg. (I need to find the human number again) I’m about 100 kg, so that made the toxic dose about 250 grams. IIRC that was about 1/2 CUP of the powder… so you have some headroom before you hit ‘toxic’.
Borax, given the E number E285, is used as a food additive in some countries, but is banned in the US. As a consequence, certain foods, such as caviar, produced for sale in the US contain higher levels of salt to assist preservation. Its use as a cooking ingredient is to add a firm rubbery texture to the food, or as a preservative. In oriental cooking it is mostly used for its texturing properties. In Asia, Borax (Chinese: 硼砂; pinyin: péng shā) or (Chinese: 月石; pinyin: yuè shí) was found to have been added to some Chinese foods like hand-pulled noodles lamian and some rice noodles like Shahe fen, Kway Teow, and Chee Cheong Fun recipes. In Indonesia it is a common, but forbidden, additive to such foods as noodles, bakso (meatballs), and steamed rice. The country’s Directorate of Consumer Protection warns of the risk of liver cancer with high consumption over a period of 5–10 years.
So don’t eat it by the bucket in caviar and noodles over a decade…
Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is not acutely toxic. Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats: a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. The lethal dose is not necessarily the same for humans.
Sufficient exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. “In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure.
Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be particularly toxic to infants, especially after repeated use, because of the slow elimination rate.
Borax was added to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list on 16 December 2010. The SVHC candidate list is part of the EU Regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 2006 (REACH), and the addition was based on the revised classification of Borax as toxic for reproduction category 1B under the CLP Regulations. Substances and mixtures imported into the EU which contain Borax are now required to be labelled with the warnings “May damage fertility” and “May damage the unborn child”.
One wonders at just what level they are finding those effects. I suspect “quite high”.
Nobody seems to know what it does, or how much is needed, but there are good indications that you need SOME, or bad things happen, and that the body regulates it to keep what it has if intake is too low:
Determining human dietary requirements for boron.
Sutherland B, Strong P, King JC.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
A dietary requirement is defined as the lowest continuing intake of a nutrient that for a specified indicator of adequacy, will maintain a defined level of nutriture in an individual. An essential dietary component is one that the body cannot synthesize in sufficient quantities to maintain health. Recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are based on estimates of the dietary requirements, and are designed to prevent deficiency diseases and promote health through an adequate diet.
In 1996, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) began a revision process of the RDAs using as criteria specific indicators of adequacy and functional end points for reducing the risk of chronic disease. Boron (B) is a dietary component, and evidence from animal studies indicates that it is a dietary essential; it cannot be synthesized in tissues, and organisms exposed to very low levels of B show developmental defects. In humans, there is evidence of homeostatic regulation of B and an interrelationship with bone metabolism.
To understand better the relationship between dietary B and B homeostasis, we measured the dietary B intake and urinary B losses in seven male participants of a controlled metabolic study of Zn homeostasis. Average dietary B intake for the repeated menu days, days 1, 2, and 3, was 4.56, 1.87, and 4.75 mg/d, respectively. Urinary B excretion during the 42-d collection period averaged 3.20 +/- 0.41 mg/d. When dietary B was low, urinary B loss (2.92 mg/d) was significantly lower than when B intake was higher (3.15 and 3.54 mg/d). Our study showed that urinary B excretion changes rapidly with changes in B intake, indicating that the kidney is the site of homeostatic regulation. To enable establishment of a dietary requirement for B in the future, further research of homeostatic regulation and functional markers of B metabolism need to be performed, followed by epidemiological studies to identify health conditions associated with inadequate dietary B.
So you need it, but they don’t know why, and you need some, but not a whole lot, but just how much is, er, a work in progress…
That excretion increases rapidly when in excess tells me that if I stay down in the “fraction of a gram” range every few days I’m likely OK.
What does it do? Nobody knows for sure, but where it is found gives a clue:
Boron (B) is a trace mineral essential for plants. Boron has only recently been established as an mineral of nutritional significance to humans and animals. Although this mineral has not been officially recognised as essential by the National Academies of Science, there is growing consensus within the scientific and medical community of its role in a number of physiological functions primarily calcium and bone metabolism.
Boron is found in most tissues but is primarily concentrated in the bone, spleen and thyroid.
It is common for minerals to be concentrated in the tissues that use them the most. So it looks to have involvement in bone and thyroid, and perhaps some immune activity as the spleen is part of the immune system.
That would imply that a shortage would show up as some kind of bone and / or immune problem, and perhaps as an energy metabolism defect (thyroxin).
It goes on to list some speculative effects. I say ‘speculative’ even though this claims to be based on ‘studies’ simply because it is work in the early stages.
Several studies have provided evidence that this trace mineral is required in calcium and bone metabolism to help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis
Several studies have also shown an association between sufficient boron intake and a reduction in the incidence of tooth decay.
Studies have also linked optimal intakes of boron with enhanced memory, alertness and cognitive function.
Some studies have shown that boron supplementation of 3 milligrams per day results in both calcium and magnesium retention and elevations in serum concentrations of testosterone and oestrogen.
Men who consume optimal intakes of boron also have decreased risk of developing prostate cancers.
Elderly individuals benefit from supplementing their diet with 2 to 3 milligrams per day of boron due to a reduced ability to absorb calcium.
Some research findings have indicated that boron is a “dynamic” trace element that can affect the metabolism of other substances involved in many processes including hormones such as oestrogen and thyroid hormone.
I found this statement interesting (though it may be self serving as the site looks to be a seller of mineral suppliments and the top level page says they are using Utah Great Salt Lake as their source.)
No recommendations or Daily Values have been established. Typical daily intakes in the United States vary between 0.5 milligrams to 7 milligrams. Those consuming Westernised diets consume between 0.1 to 0.5 milligrams of boron per day.
IFF that is true, then the supposition is that most folks on a white bread, mayo, and coke diet are deficient in Boron. As an essential plant nutrient, those of us eating our collards and kale are likely OK.
Signs of Deficiency
In animals (with a vitamin D deficiency) fed low amounts of boron there were increases in total calcium loss, interruption with the use of insulin, fat and glucose as well as diminished bone development. In closely monitored studies, humans fed a diet low in boron exhibited similar changes as witnessed in the boron deficient animals. Low intakes of boron may also aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. It reduces blood ionised calcium and calcitonin levels and elevates urinary calcium loss in humans, while adequate supplementation inhibits these conditions.
Low levels of boron can cause increase urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium.
I do find the “Obesity Epidemic” and the “Diabetes Epidemic” in modern western society oddly concordant with the things listed here. Involvement with insulin and fat metabolism.
The following claims assert an evidentiary chain back to known Universities. I’m assuming those are valid, but if someone wants to follow back to the original papers and read them and / or post the links, that would be nice. (I’m way over scheduled right now). References are listed at the bottom of the link.
Researchers at the International Symposium on Health Effects of Boron and its Compounds held at the University of California at Irvine report that boron levels in arthritic patients are low and that the arthritis rates are typically higher in regions where boron intakes are the lowest. However, in patients that supplemented their diet with boron, bone density is much greater. In one clinical trial comprised of patients with severe osteoarthritis, patients were given either 6 milligrams of boron or placebo. Half of the patients improved compared to only 10 % of subjects taking placebos.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Center, boron is essential for mental function, hand-eye coordination, attention span, perception and short and long-term memory.5Comparing spectral analysis of electroencephalographic data of low boron intake compared to high boron intake, there was a significant increase in the proportion of low-frequency activity and a decrease in the proportion of higher frequency activity (an effect often observed in general malnutrition or heavy metal toxicity). In addition, low boron intake resulted in “significantly poorer” performance on tasks emphasising: manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, attention, perception, encoding and short- term memory and long-term memory.5
Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles conclude that men whose diets had the most boron, at least 1.8 milligrams of boron per day, had less than one-third as many prostate cancers as men who consumed less than 0.9 milligrams per day.8
There is emerging evidence that dietary boron aids the immune system by reducing the incidence and severity of inflammatory disease. Researchers believe boron facilitates the normal inflammatory process by reducing the activity of serine proteases, enzymes that are typically elevated during the normal inflammatory process.9
Boron can help prevent against postmenopausal osteoporosis. Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture found that women who supplemented their diet with 3 milligrams of boron excreted approximately 40 % less calcium, one-third less magnesium and slightly less phosphorous through their urine than they had prior to supplementation.4
These folks have an odd theory about Fluorine displacing Iodine from the thyroid (that might be interesting to explore ‘someday’) but also list the “old recipe” for boron supplementation via Borax.
Upon searching for ways to detoxify fluoride from the body I came across an old remedy for arthritis: Borax (Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate), yes the old 20 Mule Team Borax for your laundry. These believers are diluting 1/8 teaspoon into 2 liters (just over 1/2 gallon) of water for arthritis and fungal infections and drinking it several times a week. I was intrigued by what I found.
While I wouldn’t recommend taking this acid into your system as it may upset your body’s pH balance, I see how these folks back before the days of identiying nutrients, would notice an improvement with the extra Boron in their diet. My chemistry knowledge has me leaning much closer toward taking Boron supplements such as the one developed by a Dr. Newnham or simply trying to get more trace minerals out of my diet, like by cooking more bone stock from pasture fed animals. Please read the following article that I found about Dr. Rex Newnham, who spear-headed much research regarding Boron deficiency correlating with arthritis.
While the makers of Boraxo have information about just what plants have boron in them:
Measuring the boron content in healthy diets starts with determining how much boron is available in each different nutritional source. The first noteworthy morsel in Rainey’s research is that some high boron foods are not ones that people immediately identify as boron-rich. It’s no surprise that fruits like avocados, cherries and grapes are relatively high in boron. Almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts make sense, too. But did you know that scallops, mussels and clams have about as much boron as parsnips, beets and rutabaga (swedes)?
For junk food junkies, there’s also good news. Licorice, chocolate and popcorn are high boron foods – with almost as much boron as oranges. And gourmets can rest assured: a glass of wine contributes about the same amount of boron to the diet as a glass of prune juice.
Once Rainey had established a nutrient data base quantifying boron content by food group, her next step was to find out how much people were eating. Her findings for where people in six different countries get their boron are included in this issue’s ‘Boron boutique’.
Not surprisingly, she found some overlap in which foods contributed the most boron to diets in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Egypt and Kenya. Potatoes made every country’s top ten list, for instance.
What also emerged was the fact that the rural agricultural cultures surveyed tend to rely on a shorter list of food and beverages for their dietary intake – and for their boron intake. The list of the top 15 foods that contribute boron to people’s diets in Mexico, Egypt and Kenya constituted between 80 and 94 percent of their boron intake; in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, the top 15 contributors only accounted for between 48 and 63 percent of total boron intake.
(That link gave me a ‘pick your region to continue’ and then I had to close a window and, well ‘do stuff’ to get back to the article, so I’ve quoted most of it here).
In short, it looks like boiling bones to make soup stock “the old fashioned way” is a good thing. Adding potatoes and fruits too. Along with root vegetables. Oh, and don’t forget the fruit juice or wine… washing down that chocolate… It also looks like ‘sea foods’ help too. (Not surprising, since minerals are essentially 100% available to sea creatures).
This is just a quick couple of pointers. If you find other better pointers / articles, let us all know. As it’s after 3 A.M. right now and I was supposed to be sleeping some time ago, this is necessarily a ‘fast posting’. So incomplete.
In general, I think there is sufficient evidence for a Boron deficiency in the average American diet, and potentially any “advanced Western diet”; simply based on the lower than “wild” level of whole plants in our modern diet and that fact that we tend not to eat the thyroid, spleen and bones of domestic farm animals. Perhaps those of us who eat whole sardines do better…
At any rate, I can see an easy case for low consumption of the source materials, in the context of a significant need, leading to a chronic shortage.
I have no idea what kind of ‘recovery profile’ might exist or how long it takes to ‘notice something’. Heck, it might well be one of those minerals where it is hard to get to a truly deficient state simply because some is in just about all things we eat. Still, the difference between ‘some’ and ‘optimal’ may well matter.
For me, I noticed a bit more ‘energized’ feeling after starting Boron supplementation. The arthritic tendency mostly seems to modulate with what I eat, but I think there was some improvement. Then again, I’ve not been really regular about intake, so who knows.