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Nail Mineral Composition Changes Do Not Reflect Bone Mineral Changes Caused by Boron Supplementation
Sema S Hakki1,2, Seyit Ali Kayis3, Niyazi Dundar4
1Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079, Turkey. sshakki@yahoo.com.
Biological Trace Element Research
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Nail mineral content changes with dietary intake. Boron supplementation altered nail calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium levels, but did not correlate with bone mineral changes, suggesting nails indicate boron response but not bone changes.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Trace element analysis
- Skeletal health
Background:
- Nails serve as a non-invasive tissue for monitoring mineral changes.
- Dietary mineral intake influences nail mineral composition.
- The relationship between boron supplementation and nail/bone mineral content requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of boron supplementation on mineral element concentrations in rabbit nails.
- To determine if changes in nail mineral content correlate with changes in bone mineral content.
- To evaluate different forms of boron supplementation (borax decahydrate, borax anhydrous, boric acid).
Main Methods:
- Female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into control and three boron-supplemented groups.
- Boron was administered via drinking water in different chemical forms.
- Nail and bone (tibia, femur) mineral concentrations were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Boron was detected in nails of supplemented rabbits but not controls.
- Boron supplementation increased nail calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations.
- Sodium concentration in nails decreased with boron supplementation, while zinc was affected by specific boron forms.
Conclusions:
- Nails can reflect the body's response to boron supplementation.
- Nail mineral analysis is not a reliable indicator for assessing boron-induced changes in bone mineral composition.
- Different boron compounds may have varying effects on nail mineral profiles.
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