Boron

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

Special Precautions of Boron

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Boron is 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 then 17 mg per day. Higher amounts can be harmful. However, boric acid 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: Don’t take boron supplements if you have kidney problems. The kidneys have to work hard to flush out boron.
• Estrogens interacts with BORON

Benefits and uses of Boron are

Boron seems to affect the way the body handles other minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus. It also seems to increase estrogen levels in older (post-menopausal) women and healthy men. Estrogen is thought to be helpful in maintaining healthy bones and mental function. Boric acid, a common form of boron, can kill yeast that cause vaginal infections.

• Vaginal infections. Some research shows that boric acid, used inside the vagina, can successfully treat yeast infections (candidiasis), including infections that don’t seem to resolve with other treatments. However, the quality of this research is in question.
• Prevents arthritis: Boron is a successful treatment option for arthritis and in more than 95% of cases significant improvement was noticed by bringing about effective calcium integration into the cartilage and bone. With increase in age the bones might become weak and porous and boron can stem this deterioration effectively.
• Reduces severity of rheumatoid arthritis: Boron greatly reduces the allergic conditions that are typically associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Used for body building in males: Boron is able to enhance the testosterone levels in males and this quality is increasingly being made use of by male body builders and athletes. Though some weight lifters prefer to take boron supplements as it enhances the testosterone levels, making them sturdy, no concrete evidence is available to drive home this point.
• Helps in bone building: The bone building capacities of boron are often ignored in favor of calcium. However, it is boron that works in unison with calcium to strengthen the bones. It plays a very important role in minimizing the risks of osteoporosis and arthritis. Boron helps in the metabolism of minerals that are involved in bone development such as calcium, magnesium and copper. Boron also affects the hormones of estrogen and testosterone that are also related to the overall health of the bones.
• Helps in production of estrogen: Boron might improve the production of estrogen in menopausal women, bringing back their sex drive within a few days of treatment. Boron increases the level of natural sex hormones in the body, thereby reducing the need for Hormone replacement therapy.
• Ensures proper embryonic development: Boron is essential in reproduction and development of fetus though not much information is available in this regard.
• Prevents post menopausal osteoporosis: Boron can ease the symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats that are typically associated with menopause.
• Useful in cancer therapy: Boron neutron capture agents are used for cancer therapy and in the development of strong enzyme inhibitors. Boron compounds are also used as antibody mimics that can easily identify biologically important saccharides.
• Helps to maintain proper cell membrane function: Boron plays an important role in maintaining transmembrane functions and in stabilizing the hormone reception.
• Helps in preventing blood clots: It is believed that boron can influence some of the blood clotting factors in the body. However, mores studies need to be done to authenticate this finding.
• Reduces congestive heart failure conditions: Boron can significantly alleviate the difficulties caused by congestive heart failure conditions.
• Lowers plasma lipid levels: Boron helps to reduce lipid accumulation and enables in the removal of cholesterol.
• Decreases the severity of fungal infections: Boron protects the body from a host of parasitic attacks such as Candida Albicans.
• Improves brain function and cognitive performance: Studies have shown that boron can enhance brain function, eye-hand coordination, short memory and concentration.
• It serves as enzyme inhibitors: Boron might inhibit some enzymes while serving as a cofactor for yet another enzymatic reaction.

Food Sources of Boron