Boron

Boron Supplements

Are you nearing or well into menopause and concerned about your bone and joint health? While a good calcium-magnesium supplement is beneficial, boron is another important mineral to consider. This mineral supports the normal growth and renewal of your bones and muscles, which is an important aspect of your health to nurture during this life stage.

Not as well-known as many of the other minerals, boron is essential for bone health and is considered a trace mineral because we only need a small, but consistent dietary amount. Despite the low intake required, it packs quite a punch in terms of what it does inside the body.

To begin, boron acts as a cofactor to an enzyme in our kidneys that converts vitamin D into its most active form, ensuring calcium is absorbed into our bones. It also enhances bone absorption of estrogen and vitamin D (increasing bone fixation & bone building), as well as reduces calcium loss by 44%. As if that weren’t impressive enough, boron also helps prevent the loss of other crucial bone-support nutrients magnesium and phosphorus through urine.

Interestingly, boron can stimulate the production of estrogen and testosterone in the body. This is important especially at menopause because estrogen enhances the activity of osteoblasts (bone-building cells), and testosterone enhances muscle building, which is critical to protecting bones and joints as we age. As a bonus, because of its balancing effects on hormones, this mineral also helps reduce menopausal symptoms and PMS.

Finally, it’s also important to note that boron plays an important role in the integration of calcium into joint cartilage, which slows joint deterioration and thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, can also help relieve joint pain associated with arthritis and other joint conditions.

Benefits of Boron Supplements

• Enhances Absorption of Calcium & Bone Mineralization (Maintains Healthy Bone Density)
• Supports Optimal Joint Health & Relieves Joint Pain

Who Needs Boron Supplements?

Naturopaths will often recommend boron to help keep bones strong, to address osteoporosis, to help treat degenerative joint conditions, as well as for general support in the menopausal and post-menopausal years.

Boron Supplements

Potency

There is no set recommended daily intake for it and the amount required will be a function of a person’s age. Common amounts of elemental boron in supplements range from 1.5 to 6 mg.

Forms

These supplements come in a variety of different forms including:

• sodium borate
• sodium tetraborate
• boron amino acid chelate
• ascorbate
• aspartate
• citrate
• gluconate
• glycinate
• picolinate

Most complexes offer similar absorption and bioavailability. The citrate, chelate, and glycinate forms of boron are thought to offer superior absorption.

Consider taking boron with calcium, magnesium and/or vitamin D to increase absorption of these nutrients and to decrease the risk of calcium loss in the bones. These minerals and vitamins work together to enhance absorption and bone integrity.

Formats

Boron supplements are available in capsule and tablet form and can also be found in complex bone-support formulas along with other nutrients.

Choosing The Right Supplement For You

Multivitamin/mineral supplements and even bone support formulas often do not include boron in their blends, but certain higher-end products do. Make sure to read labels carefully to make sure you’re getting the boron you need to prevent bone demineralization and enhance the renewal of bones and muscles. Boron can also be taken as a standalone supplement to complement your daily supplement regimen.

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