I feel like I’m dating myself by admitting that I remember when boron supplements were all the rage. Okay, maybe not “the rage”, but they were certainly hyped up as “steroid alternatives,” another term that dates me. Perhaps because they didn’t produce results consumers were expecting, they soon waned in popularity and were largely forgotten about in sports nutrition circles.
Well, boron is back. Sort of. Today I had a conversation with Reza Naghii, PhD, a researcher at the University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Naghii and his colleagues published a study in 2010 (1) which suggests that supplementation with boron for 7 days increases testosterone. The subjects in the study were healthy, non-smoking males, 29-50 years of age (avg. ~41). For each of the 7 days, they received a capsule containing 10 mg of boron in the form of sodium tetraborate along with their breakfast.
According to the authors of the study, boron had no “major” effect on hormone levels 6 hours after supplementation. There was, however, a significant reduction in sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that binds to testosterone in the blood. After one week, significant changes in hormone levels were evident. The authors explain:
“The mean plasma FT [free testosterone] concentration increased significantly from 11.83±4.60 to 15.18 ±3.07 pg/ml [approx. 28%], and the mean plasma E2 [estradiol] concentration decreased significantly from 42.33 ±16.47 to 25.80±11.25 pg/ml [approx. 39%] after one week supplementation, while DHT [dihydrotestosterone], Cortisol and Vit. D showed a non significant, but higher level at weekly post supplementation period.”
The observed increase in free testosterone certainly isn’t huge, you might day. Still, if one were able to maintain this increase over time (say, 6 months) with continued boron supplementation, might it provide some benefit? I don’t know. On a related note, I recently read a paper in which the author stated that after 35-40 years of age, men experience a 1-3% fall in “circulating” testosterone each year, by which I assume he was referring to total (including free) testosterone. If this is true, then a 28% increase might be of some value. Or not.
How does boron “work?” I’ve been told that it may increase testosterone levels by (a) inhibiting the activity of enzymes that normally break it down and/or (b) by increasing vitamin D levels (also possibly via enzyme inhibition). The latter theory is consistent with a recent study showing that Vitamin D supplementation increases testosterone levels in vitamin-D deficient men. I’ve also been told that boron works best if you have a “low” testosterone level. For instance, if your testosterone level is already in the high end of the normal range, then taking boron may not boost it any further. Until research clarifies this one way or another, you can take what I’m saying as hearsay.
Men and women taking boron might be concerned that it will increase dihydrotestosterone (DHT), something scientists refer to as a “metabolite” of testosterone. Testosterone is turned into DHT by an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase. DHT is associated with prostate disease, hair loss and other androgen-related conditions. It makes sense to me that anything that increases testosterone will increase the levels of testosterone metabolites, DHT and estrogen included. (An enzyme known as aromatase converts testosterone into estradiol, which is a potent estrogen.) I asked Naghii to share his thoughts about this. Please keep in mind that he is from Iran and his English, while excellent, may be a bit confusing to some. I’ve edited his response slightly to make things clearer. He told me:
“Testosterone metabolites are mainly DHT, free testosterone and estrogen. In fact, testosterone is a precursor and once you increase its level, then you are expecting to increase its metabolites [DHT and estrogen] and these changes seem to be time and dose dependent. Clinically, you see the physiological effects, but sometimes it is hard to catch the exact increased levels, due to the feedback system. Therefore, higher fund [more money for studies] is needed to overcome this drawback by taking higher numbers of volunteers and sampling every week for example in a 6 weeks study.
Nevertheless, according to the result of limited studies, no undesirable increase has been noted [in DHT or estrogen] with 10-20 mg dose. [This is because] you are dealing with the production of endogenous hormones which are physiologically under controlled, [as opposed to exogenously administered hormones] which cause side effects. Some recent studies from Turkey, Korea and Japan (References are in the paper) are indicating that larger doses [of boron] create no undesirable effects on hormone levels or spermatogenesis and boron even appears to be a candidate for HRT, as well which requires further clarification.”
You may be interested to know that Futureceuticals sells calcium fructoborate (CFB), a boron-containing compound marketed under the trademarks Testosterone Advantage and FruiteX-B. CFB occurs naturally in plants. The product sold by Futureceuticals is produced synthetically. Because it is identical to the compound found in nature, it is said to be “nature-identical.”
Unpublished studies performed by Futureceuticals indicate that their CFB product can increase free testosterone levels in healthy middle-aged men. The average increase in total and free testosterone in a 6-week study was 56% and 29.5%, respectively. In a second study, total and free testosterone increased by average of 10.2% and 5.25%, respectively, 3 hours after a single dose of CFB.
As I was writing this post, I actually received an email from Naghii. In it, he talks about how boron supplementation may increase testosterone, and its potential value to bodybuilders and others hoping to benefit from it.
“I believe boron is involved in hydroxylation process which produces active form of hormones and it acts better in people with a deficiency state, e.g. aged subjects or postmeopausal women. But still I would recommend it to bodybuilders instead of steroids. It needs confirmation and deserves a research work among the bodybuilders. Limited results indicates its effect on increasing Vit d which requires hydroxylation for production and activation. In my study in a week , we found: an increase of Free T. from 11.8 to 15.18 pg/ml and Estradiol decrease from 42 to 25 pg/ml. It seems a shift from estradiol production into [the direction of] free testosterone, or higher androgenicity after one week.”
REFERENCES
My major concern as regard to the use of food product rich in boron to increase testestorone levelis-How does this take place?Imean the biochemical pathway for such effect. The function of boron in raising testestorone can only be explored only if the pathway is known and understood.
By: Isaiah Nwobodo on March 20, 2011
at 8:17 AM
Hi, Isaiah. To my knowledge, there is no definitive answer to your question. As I said in my post:
Again, to my knowledge, scientists have not yet precisely determined how boron affects testosterone levels, though I have a feeling it has something to do with enzyme inhibition of some sort.
Thanks very much for your question. I appreciate you making a comment on my blog.
By: Rob Thoburn on March 20, 2011
at 2:50 PM
A little history. Many decades ago a doctor found that levels of arthritis varied greatly world wide and were inversely related to boron content of the soil. After early experimentation they found boron supplements increased hormone levels in older men and women along with other effects such as preserving magnesium in the body, preventing arthritis, and increasing bone building. Its clear that boron works.
Those interested in boron for bone loss prevention have started eating prunes which have boron and are also shown to reduce bone loss. Fruits tend to have a lot of boron. Boron was also used as a preservative in the early 1900′s so it seems to be rather safe record even when added to foods. I am a fan of supplementation and have noticed the androgenic effects.
Boron also lowers the incidence of prostrate and breast cancers so it has a normalizing effect on hormone health. This involves lowering the SHBG level which increases free testosterone. SHBG levels rise in older men as one of the anti-androgenic influences along with rising aromatase activity.
By: Dave on April 16, 2011
at 1:27 PM
Hi Rob,
I have been suffering from CFS for many years now.
I took boron last year 9mg daily. I noticed my low
cortisol symptoms were practically gone.
I also noticed my beard getting thicker and my muscles
stronger. My Total testosterone is always about 450(280-900)
My age is 27. Low libido.
Unfortunately it also increased my copper levels and this
makes me very reactive to hay fever. So I had to stop it.
Boron increases copper by increasing estradiol and
ceruloplasmin.
Yesterday I started again with boron. 6mg daily I will do.
Already noticing improvement in low cortisol symptoms.
I am also taking iron now to hopefully reduce the copper
effects which are increased by boron.
I think boron might be important for anemia. Ceruloplasmin
increases copper in blood. Copper is important for anemia.
Ceruloplasmin also seems to be important in iron transport.
Perhaps that is why taking iron supplements in the past never
helped me because my ceruloplasmin was low which could be
explained by low boron.
I will let you know what the effects will be in a few weeks.
O before I forget. I have done a high fruit diet in the past, but
never noticed any boron increasing effect. I think fruits might be
high in boron, but it doesn’t really increase boron levels in the body.
Take care
By: cfssufferer on May 6, 2011
at 6:39 PM
For cfssufferer: The research I was familiar with suggested that Boron worked primarily for older adults, typically past 40. You may be an unusual but valid case for boron helping a particular disease or case.
If you are having problems with higher copper and estradiol levels, these might be moderated by taking a matching zinc supplement. Zinc balances copper in the body and also functions as an anti-aromatase nutrient, reducing the conversion of testosterone to estradiol. The usual optimal high dose limit is 100 mg daily from all sources because higher doses tend to slow immune system activity. One of the symptoms of low zinc status are white dots or broad white banding on the fingernails or toe nails.
I found 80 mg of zinc valuable after age 50.
If you are taking zinc and iron supplements, take them at separate times of the day as they hinder each others absorption.
By: David Sander on May 9, 2011
at 1:22 PM
Which form should I take (any recommendations)?:
STB BORON by Performance Edge or FruiteX-B by VDF Futureceuticals.
Do I need to cycle?
Any side effects?
By: Gary Valvo on October 20, 2011
at 11:20 AM
Hi, Gary. As far as I’m aware, there have been no studies performed to answer the question of whether or not boron should be cycled.
Nor, to my knowledge, have there been any studies conducted which compare the type of boron in the Performance Edge product with that made by Futureceuticals.
I am not aware of any side effects at the doses used by Futureceuticals in their studies.
By: Rob Thoburn on October 23, 2011
at 5:00 PM
I use Triple Boron by Source Naturals that has the aspartate, citrate, and glycinate forms of boron. I’ve never heard of cycling boron as helpful although it seems to be most important for older adults in raising hormone levels to normal. Boron is known for conserving magnesium in the body which is often in short supply in the diet. The research quoted above and reports I’ve read that boron reduces the incidence of prostrate and breast cancer makes it sound like boron has a normalizing effect on hormones. Doses in the 10 mg to 20 mg range and even more sound free of symptoms in most reviews while some conservative reviews worry about anything near 15 mg but don’t seem to have valid observed research of negative effects.
By: Dave on October 24, 2011
at 11:54 AM
Hi, Dave. It’s funny you mentioned the “normalizing effect”. Researchers I have spoken with tell me that boron probably functions a bit like an “adaptogen”, which is essentially what you are saying. That is, if your testosterone level is slightly low, it may help bring it up a bit higher. However, if it’s already high, it may not push it any higher. Whether or not it might actually bring it back down if it’s high and outside the normal range, remains to be seen.
By: Rob Thoburn on October 25, 2011
at 8:15 PM
I would agree to the adaptogen effect being a possible viewpoint. The research I’ve read says it boosts hormone levels in older adults but seems to have no effect in young men. There were strength tests years ago where body builders tried it for added anabolic effect and were disappointed as I suppose they were using young men for subjects. I do know when I tried it while training for a marathon at about 35 miles a week that it did help my recovery. I was over 50 at the time.
By: Dave on October 27, 2011
at 3:59 PM
can you look @this one please
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9197924
“Supplementation with 10 mg B/d for 4 wk resulted in 84% of the supplemented dose being recovered in the urine. Plasma estradiol concentrations increased significantly as a result of supplementation (51.9 +/- 21.4 to 73.9 +/- 22.2 pmol/L; p < 0.004)"
Is it saying that 10 mg twice a day increases estradiol? As opposed to the study quoted in the blog, 10 mg 1 x day lowers estradiol.
By: peter on February 24, 2012
at 3:18 PM
Greetings!
I am excited to read this information. I have, what I consider “low free T” at 9.4. I do not know which assay was used but the “normal” range was 6.8 – 21.00. I am 40 and have suffered many symptoms of low T but since I fall within the “normal” range i would have to pay out of pocket for any treatment. I take 25mg and of zinc and 3mg of boron every evening for nearly 3 months and have not noticed any change. Perhaps my dose is too low? Also I was wondering if Boron would be good for my wife; she is only 28 and has very low progesterone and is estrogen dominant. She has severe PMS and we both have very low libido.
By: Roy Lingengelter on March 10, 2012
at 5:32 PM
Great article as I am always on the search for a product that can do this! Thank you! I look forward to more research information! Keep up the great work! Thanks
By: Billy on March 11, 2012
at 1:11 PM
I can attest to the beneficial effects of boron at 3mg/day eliminating hot flashes. I have tried the typical black cohosh, women’s formulas, etc. etc. and these herbs are suggested to raise estrogen. All I can say is from the first day of taking boron I noticed a substantial difference. Within 3 days, no hot flashes at all. You can’t beat that with a stick.
I can tell you also, that I have tested low with OH-hydrovitamin D2 <4 and D3 value of 20 with a borderline high of 1,25 oh-vitamin D at 58. I also know that my aldosterone/renin ratio is high (though no presence of adrenal gland tumor).
I also have from blood tests, borderline high copper and lower levels of zinc. i had iron deficiency anemia until i had a Novesure ablation which resulted in immediate menopause. I no longer have iron issues.
I know that when I take vitamin d3, 2000 mg or more in a concentrated liquid form, I feel tired. I seem to be experiencing tiredness with boron also but notice that I sleep better since taking the boron. If I miss it during the day, I don't sleep as well.
This is my experience and I have been taking it for about a week, Natures Way brand. I have another lady trying it for her hot flashes as well. This will prove interesting. I got the idea to try boron from hair mineral analysis guru, Dr. Lawrence Wilson. I believe hair analysis is a helpful tool in establishing wellness along with traditional testing.
By: Charlotte on January 21, 2013
at 5:18 PM