Boron Citrate is a mineral that is found in food and the environment. People take boron supplements as medicine.
Contents
Uses
- Boron is used for building strong bones, treating osteoarthritis, as an aid for building muscles and increasing testosterone levels, and for improving thinking skills and muscle coordination.
- Women sometimes use capsules containing boric acid, the most common form of boron, inside the vagina to treat yeast infections.
- People also apply boric acid to the skin as an astringent or to prevent infection; or use it as an eye wash.
- Boron was used as a food preservative between 1870 and 1920, and during World Wars I and II.
Benefits
- Elevated Testosterone – Studies reveal that boron is an effective testosterone booster. Using just one 10mg capsule of boron, study participants experienced a significant rise in serum testosterone levels within just a few hours.
- Decreased Estrogen – The same study that reported that boron supplementation elevated testosterone also revealed that, as well as being a six star free testosterone booster, boron also lowered estrogen levels. Estrogen is testosterone’s “evil twin” and high estrogen levels drive testosterone levels downward. By reducing estrogen, testosterone levels are more likely to increase naturally.
- Inhibition of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin – SHBG is a protein that binds to testosterone which makes it unusable within your body. It’s all well and good elevating your t-levels but if you cannot use the increased testosterone, you won’t experience much in the way of benefit. Boron has been shown to reduce SHBG levels which makes your testosterone more available and increases useable “free” testosterone levels in your blood.
- Reduced Inflammation – If you scratch your skin, it is likely to become raised, swollen and reddened. This is essentially inflammation. Inflammation not only happens on the outside of your body but on the inside too. Inflammation is caused by things like environmental and nutritional toxins, eating too much sugar, eating trans fats, stress, and the free radical damage caused by the very act of breathing (aging).
- Increased Bone Health – Too little boron can have an adverse effect on skeletal health and, specifically, bone mass. Supplementation of boron or increasing the intake of boron-rich foods will enhance calcium metabolism and balance estrogen and testosterone levels leading to greater lean body mass. This will reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis – a disease characterized by low bone density and an increased risk of fracture.
Cautions
- Boron is LIKELY SAFE for adults and children when used in doses less than the Upper Tolerable Limit (UL) (see dosage section below). There is some concern that doses over 20 mg per day, the UL for adults, might harm a man’s ability to father a child.
- Boric acid, a common form of boron, is LIKELY SAFE when used vaginally for up to six months. It can cause a sensation of vaginal burning.
- Boron is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for adults and children when taken by mouth in high doses. Large quantities of boron can cause poisoning. Signs of poisoning include skin inflammation and peeling, irritability, tremors, convulsions, weakness, headaches, depression, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms.
- Also, boric acid powder, a common form of boron, is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when applied in large amounts to prevent diaper rash.
- Special Precautions & Warnings:
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Boron is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant and breast-feeding women age 19-50 when used in doses less that 20 mg per day. Pregnant and breast-feeding women age 14 to 18 should not take more than 17 mg per day. Taking boron by mouth in high doses is POSSIBLY UNSAFE while pregnant and breast feeding. Higher amounts may be harmful and should not be used by pregnant women because it has been linked to birth defects. Intravaginal boric acid has been associated with a 2.7- to 2.8-fold increased risk of birth defects when used during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
- Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Boron might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, avoid supplemental boron or high amounts of boron from foods.
- Kidney disease or problems with kidney function: Do not take boron supplements if you have kidney problems. The kidneys have to work hard to flush out boron.
Interactions
- Estrogens interacts with BORON
- Boron might increase estrogen levels in the body. Taking boron along with estrogens might cause too much estrogen in the body.
Other names
Acide Borique, Anhydride Borique, Atomic number 5, B (chemical symbol), B (symbole chimique), Borate, Borate de Sodium, Borates, Bore, Boric Acid, Boric Anhydride, Boric Tartrate, Boro, Numéro Atomique 5, Sodium Borate
References
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-894-boron.aspx?activeingredientid=894
Anabolic Health, https://www.anabolichealth.com/boron-citrate-benefits/