Many of us are familiar with the element "Boron" from schools, television programs, or documentaries. The most common things we hear about are its atomic number 5, symbol "B", crystalline form, brittle nature, brightness, and abundant presence in our country, among others. Now, let's explore the less memorable aspects.
The word "boron" actually comes from the borax mineral. Boron is formed through the isolation of borax. The chemical name of borax is "Sodium Borate" (Na2H20B4O17). Borax, which is the sodium salt of weak boric acid (boric acid being the main form of boron in blood, urine, and other body fluids), is alkaline due to the presence of sodium, with a pH value between 9 and 10. So far, we've technically familiarized ourselves with boron; now let's talk about its connection with the human body.
The human body has a chemical definition, which can be researched for those interested, although it's not the main focus of our writing. According to this definition, the human body contains 0.000018% boron. We usually meet our body's need for this amount of boron through nutrition. This is part of the body's natural mineral cycle. Boron is not usually found in abundance in fatty tissues. While boron is mostly present in the plasma of blood, it doesn't accumulate in most body tissues. However, it is found in larger amounts in bones, hair, and nails compared to other tissues. This feature indicates that boron plays a critical role, especially in bone health and tissue structure. When boron enters the body, it interacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach. After absorption in the intestines, sodium borate, boric acid, and boron are quickly absorbed. However, it doesn't accumulate in the body and is excreted through urine at a rate of 90-95%. This process contributes to the controlled use of boron in the body and prevents excessive accumulation. Boron in our bodies is not just a vital mineral supporting normal growth; it also plays many critical roles from bone health to brain function.
In recent studies, we see that the values of vitamins and minerals in the foods we eat or drink are decreasing day by day. Scientists attribute this to the widespread use of agricultural pesticides and GMO seeds. Additionally, agricultural pesticides, both due to their unconscious and excessive use, destroy necessary soil minerals, making it difficult for the plants we obtain our food from to provide essential vitamins and minerals in their fruits. As a result, as the final consumers in the food chain, we unfortunately cannot obtain the necessary vitamins and minerals from these foods. Our stomachs may be full, but our cells aren't nourished, leading to illness.
This is where the journey of boron in the food cycle comes into play. Moreover, it's not my intention in this article to make the claim commonly heard in morning programs, "Consume this amount of dried apricots daily to get the necessary boron for your body," but rather to evaluate whether boron can be consumed as a mineral supplement due to the inadequacy of minerals in foods.
So, let's ask right away: Can boron mineral be consumed in its pure form?
First of all, boron mineral is not found in nature in its pure form. As a trace mineral, boron must be expressed not alone but with another element due to its property of quickly bonding with other elements in the environment. Therefore, the use of sodium forms of the mineral as supplements is considered. Yes, boron can be consumed!
But what are its benefits?
Boron aids in the more effective utilization of various minerals in the body, especially in vitamin D production, contributing to the strengthening of the body's immune system. This plays an effective role in preventing common diseases during the winter months.
A deficiency of boron can have negative effects, especially on bone development and regeneration. It effectively prevents bone demineralization. In addition to bone health, it's critical for the brain because its deficiency can affect not only our physical health but also our mental health. An increase in copper concentration in the brain reflects imbalances in the nervous system, leading to symptoms such as involuntary muscle spasms, tremors, and difficulty swallowing. Additionally, an accumulation of copper in the frontal lobe can contribute to various psychological problems. This situation can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, mood disorders, depression, compulsive disorders, and personality changes. In the long term, this situation may pose risks of serious health problems, such as Wilson's disease. However, regular intake of boron can lead to positive improvements in balance and memory strength. Improvement in balance and memory strength comes from the positive effects of boron on the nervous system. This can help us feel more balanced and energetic in our daily lives. Therefore, paying attention to our eating habits and providing our bodies with necessary minerals is important for both our physical and mental health.
In fact, boron's use extends to a wide range of applications from its anti-cancer effects to the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and there are numerous significant studies in this field. Science has now reached a positive consensus on the use of boron in nutrition. In conclusion, the various and important roles of boron within the body should not be overlooked for the preservation of our health. Consuming boron-containing foods consciously or, if necessary, taking supplements can be an important step for general health and a better quality of life.
Now, a question arises here!
Since boron is so effective in nutrition, why haven't we heard about it until now? This is somewhat related to science policy.
This will be the subject of our next article.
