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Boron Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain boron. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with a pharmacist or health care professional before starting.
Scientists have studied boron for the following health problems: Osteoarthritis | One small study and observations in populations exposed to boron suggest that boron may provide benefits for treating osteoarthritis. More research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached in this area. | Osteoporosis | Boron has been observed to regulate the way the body handles calcium, which is believed to be important in preventing bone loss. There is only limited research in humans specifically using boron to treat osteoporosis. Although there is a scientific basis that boron prevents calcium loss, the available limited research does not support the theory that boron improves bone density or slows the progression of osteoporosis. | Vaginal infections | Several studies suggest that topical application of boron cream to the vagina may be an effective treatment for vaginal fungal infections. It is not clear what dose is safe and effective. | Brain function | Boron has been proposed as a therapy to improve brain function and performance, such as eye-hand coordination, attention and memory. More research in humans is needed in this area before a conclusion can be reached. | Hormonal regulation | It has been suggested that boron may increase estrogen levels in women, reducing vaginal discomfort after menopause. More research is needed in humans before a conclusion can be reached. | Psoriasis | It has been proposed that boron may help in the treatment of psoriasis. However, research in humans using boron to treat this condition has not indicated that boron improves psoriasis plaques much better than placebo does. Therefore, it is unclear whether there is any benefit from using boron to treat psoriasis. | Body building | Boron has been proposed as a method of increasing testosterone levels to improve body building. However, in a study that looked at the effects of boron in body building compared with the effects of placebo, boron offered no benefits over placebo in raising testosterone levels or in improving lean body mass. | Menopausal Symptoms | It has been proposed that boron affects estrogen levels in post-menopausal women. However, early studies have found no changes in menopusal symptoms. | Prevention of blood clotting (effects on coagulation) | It has been proposed that boron may have effects on the activity of certain clotting factors in the body. A small (15 healthy men aged 45 to 65 years), randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study concluded that there is no evidence of boron lowering clotting factor VIIa. Notably, this study was funded by a manufacturer of boron. |
Boron has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care professional before taking boron for any unproven use. Anti-inflammatory
Antiseptic
Antiviral
Bone healing
Breast cancer
Cancer
Diabetes
Diaper rash (not recommended because of deaths)
Eye wash | High cholesterol
Hypersensitivity to temperature
Increasing lifespan
Leukemia
Onychomycosis
Pain
Prostate cancer
Rheumatoid arthritis
Vitamin D deficiency
Wound care |
Allergies People should avoid boron if they have a known allergy to boron, boric acid, borax, citrate, aspartate or glycinate. Signs of allergy include rash, itching and shortness of breath. Side Effects Boron seems to be well tolerated in adults at doses less than 10 milligrams per day, but high doses can cause poisoning. Some people may experience stomach discomfort, including diarrhea. Other side effects are skin redness and peeling, eye irritation if exposed to boron dust, mouth or throat irritation, cough or fever. Excitability, irritability, tremors, seizures, weakness, headache and depression have also been reported. Boron may increase estrogen or testosterone levels, but the significance of this is unknown. Overdose or chronic use may cause nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, anemia, hair loss or liver damage. The use of boron in infants has been associated with severe toxicity and death. Boron can be absorbed into the body through dermal use, inhalation or oral use. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding Boron cannot be recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding because of a lack of information and reports of toxicity in infants. In animal studies, large amounts of boron prevented pregnancy, but this has not been reported in humans.
Interactions with drugs, herbs and other supplements have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with a health care professional or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs Dietary boron can affect the breakdown of steroid hormones and several other nutrients, including calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, increasing their levels in the blood. If boron is used with antacids containing magnesium (Maalox, milk of magnesia), the beneficial effects that boron may have on calcium and estrogen may be reduced. Boron may increase estrogen levels if taken with drugs that contain estrogen (birth control pills, hormone replacement therapies). Alzheimer's drugsagents, analgesics, androgens, anti-inflammatories, antilipemics agents, antineoplastic agents, antiviral agents, arthritis agents, dopamine agonists, dopamine antagonists, drugs that damage the liver, osteoporosis agents, and drugs eliminated by the kidneys may interact with boron. Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements Dietary boron can affect the breakdown of steroid hormones and several other nutrients, including calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, increasing their levels in the blood.
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. Appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care professional before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. Boron is usually well tolerated in adults at doses less than 10 milligrams per day, but high doses can cause poisoning. Safety of use beyond 12 months has not been studied. There are no standard or well-studied doses of boron, and many different doses are used traditionally. Boron can be absorbed into the body through dermal use, inhalation or oral use. Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Tablets: A dose studied for osteoarthritis is three to six milligrams of elemental boron taken by mouth daily for eight weeks. When used to prevent osteoporosis, a dose of three milligrams of boron daily has been used for people who eat a diet low in fruits and vegetables. For menopausal symptoms, a dose of 2.5 to three milligrams of elemental boron daily has been used. And for improving brain function, a dose of three milligrams of elemental boron daily has been suggested. Suppository/topical: For treating vaginal infections, one study used capsules containing 600 milligrams of boric acid inserted into the vagina, although safety has not been clearly established. A common dose for boron creams in the treatment of psoriasis is a mixture of 1.5 percent boric acid and 3 percent zinc oxide applied to the affected area. Children (Younger Than 18) Deaths have occurred when boron was taken by mouth or applied as a topical cream in infants. Boron should not be used in children.
Boron has been suggested as a treatment for many conditions. There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of boron for any medical condition. Boron may irritate the skin, eyes, mouth and throat. It should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women and in children. Certain nutrient levels and hormones may be affected by boron. Boron may cause poisoning if large doses are taken. Boron can be absorbed into the body through dermal use, inhalation or oral use. Safety of use beyond 12 months has not been studied. Consult a health care professional immediately if you have any side effects. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
- Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Boron Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Anonymous. Antineoplastic effect of new boron compounds against leukemic cell lines and cells from leukemic patients. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2002;Sep, 21(3):351-356.
- Devarian TA, Volpe SL. The physiological effects of dietary boron. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2003;43(2):219-231.
- Guaschino S, De Seta F, Sartore A, et al. Efficacy of maintenance therapy with topical boric acid in comparison with oral itraconazole in the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184(4):598-602.
- Hunt CD, Friel JK, Johnson LK. Boron concentrations in milk from mothers of full term and premature infants. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(5):1327-33.
- Kumar, SK, Hager E, Pettit C, et al. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel boronic-chalcone derivatives as antitumor agents. J Med Chem 2003;Jul 3, 46(14):2813-2815.
- Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Chief Editors: Ulbricht C, Basch E, Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Reference - Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews, USA: Elsevier/Mosby, 2005.
- Nzietchueng RM, Dousset B, Franck P, et al. Mechanisms implicated in the effects of boron on wound healing. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2002:16(4):239-244.
- [No authors listed]. Vitrum osteomag in prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: results of the comparative open multicenter trial. Ter Arkh 2004;76(11):88-93.
- Wallace JM, Hannon-Fletcher MP, Robson PJ, et al. Boron supplementation and activated factor VII in healthy men. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;Nov, 56(11):1102-1107.
Last updated September 04, 2008
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