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Boron

Uses

Boron is a nonmetallic element present in the diet and in the human body in trace amounts. Whether boron is an essential nutrient for humans remains in debate.

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This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for Why
1 Star
Osteoarthritis
Refer to label instructions
Boron affects calcium metabolism, and people with OA have been reported to have low bone stores of boron. Supplementing with boron may replenish stores and improve symptoms.

affects calcium metabolism, and a link between boron deficiency and arthritis has been suggested. Although people with osteoarthritis have been reported to have lower stores of boron in their bones than people without the disease, other minerals also are deficient in the bones of people with osteoarthritis. One double-blind trial found that 6 mg of boron per day, taken for two months, relieved symptoms of osteoarthritis in five of ten people, compared with improvement in only one of the ten people assigned to placebo.This promising finding needs confirmation from larger trials.

1 Star
Osteoporosis
Refer to label instructions
Supplementing with boron has been reported to reduce urinary loss of calcium and magnesium. However, those already supplementing with magnesium appear to achieve no additional calcium-sparing benefit when boron is added. Therefore, people with osteoporosis should supplement with magnesium or boron, not both.

supplementation has been reported to reduce urinary loss of calcium and magnesium in some, but not all, preliminary research. However, those who are already supplementing with magnesium appear to achieve no additional calcium-sparing benefit when boron is added. Finally, in the original report claiming that boron reduced loss of calcium, the effect was achieved by significantly increasing estrogen and testosterone levels, hormones that have been linked to cancer risks. Therefore, it makes sense for people with osteoporosis to supplement with magnesium instead of, rather than in addition to, boron.

One trial studying postmenopausal women combined hormone replacement therapy with magnesium (600 mg per day), calcium (500 mg per day), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, copper, manganese, , and other nutrients for an eight- to nine-month period. In addition, participants were told to avoid processed foods, limit protein intake, emphasize vegetable over animal protein, and limit consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, and tobacco. Bone density increased a remarkable 11%, compared to only 0.7% in women receiving hormone replacement alone.

1 Star
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Refer to label instructions
Boron supplementation may be beneficial, particularly in treating people with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

supplementation at 3–9 mg per day may be beneficial, particularly in treating people with juvenile RA, according to very preliminary research. The benefit of using boron to treat people with RA remains unproven.

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