Project Number: 5450-51000-039-05
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Mar 01, 2004
End Date: Feb 28, 2009

Objective:
Enhance the quality of life through establishing mineral intakes that support optimal bone and joint health. Specifically, to confirm that boron is bioactive in osteogenesis and thus promotes bone growth and remodeling; and to establish dietary recommendations for boron that promote bone repair and maintains bone health.

Approach:
Studies will use a mouse model of bone repair after injury. Mice will be fed boron-deficient and adequate diets. After about 5 weeks, surgical procedures will be performed for the purpose of evaluating peri-implant bone healing of the tibia and mandibular bone remodeling upon tooth extraction. Thirty days after the surgical procedures, the tibias and mandibles will be collected for histologic and histomorphometric examination. Tissues and plasma will be collected for the determination of indicators of bone formation and remodeling.