title: Effects of boron supplementation on bone mineral density and dietary, blood, and urinary calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and boron in female athletes.
abstract: The effects of boron supplementation on blood and urinary minerals were studied in female college students--17 athletes and 11 sedentary controls--over a one-year period. The athletes had lower percent body fat and higher aerobic capacities than sedentary controls. Athletic subjects consumed more boron in their normal diets than sedentary subjects; all other dietary measures were similar between the two groups. The athletes showed a slight increase in bone mineral density, whereas the sedentary group showed a slight decrease. Serum phosphorus concentrations were lower in boron-supplemented subjects than in subjects receiving placebos, and were lower at the end of the study period than during baseline analysis. Activity depressed changes in serum phosphorus in boron-supplemented subjects. Serum magnesium concentrations were greatest in the sedentary controls whose diets were supplemented with boron, and increased with time in all subjects. A group x supplement interaction was observed with serum magnesium; exercise in boron-supplemented subjects lowered serum magnesium. In all subjects, calcium excretion increased over time; in boron-supplemented subjects, boron excretion increased over time. In all subjects, boron supplementation affected serum phosphorus and magnesium, and the excretion of urinary boron.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Meacham
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Taper
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001895:Boron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D010758:Phosphorus; D008274:Magnesium; D001895:Boron; D002118:Calcium