Educational only — not medical advice.

TL;DR

  • Boron is a trace mineral that helps bones, hormones, and inflammation
    • It may support wound healing, cognitive health, and detoxification
    • Higher boron intake is linked with lower risk of arthritis
    • Some research shows benefits for vitamin D, testosterone, and estrogen balance
    • Boron is found naturally in fruits, nuts, and vegetables

What Is Boron?

Boron is a trace mineral found in plants and soil. We only need a very small amount, but research shows it plays a surprisingly large role in our health — especially for bones, hormones, and inflammation.

Top Health Benefits of Boron

Supports Bone Strength

Boron helps the body use calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D — three nutrients needed to build and maintain strong bones.
Animal studies show boron deficiency may weaken bone repair (1–4).

Speeds Wound Healing

Boron supports fibroblasts — the cells that help build new tissue and collagen.
A small clinical study found a 3% boric acid solution shortened recovery time for people with deep wounds by two-thirds (5–7).

Helps Balance Hormones

Boron impacts how the body uses estrogen and testosterone.

Research shows:
• In postmenopausal women, estrogen levels nearly doubled when boron was added to a low-magnesium diet
• In men, boron increased free testosterone, the active form (8–10)

This may support energy, muscle maintenance, and healthy aging.

Helps Vitamin D Work Better

Some people take vitamin D but still test low. Studies show boron may help by slowing vitamin D breakdown in the body (11–15).
This may be helpful for immune, bone, and mood support.

Reduces Inflammation

Boron helps lower inflammatory biomarkers such as:
• hs-CRP
• TNF-α
• IL-6

Some studies show levels drop within weeks of supplementation (15–17, 24).

Supports Joint Comfort

Low-boron areas of the world have much higher arthritis rates.

  • Where intake is below 1 mg/day → arthritis rates: 20–70%
    • Where intake is 3–10 mg/day → arthritis rates: 0–10% (21)

A small human trial found 50% of people taking boron improved, compared with 10% on placebo (23).

Protects Against Toxins & Oxidative Stress

Boron may help protect the body from:
• Pesticides
• Heavy metals
• Free radicals that damage cells (25–27)

This supports brain, liver, and whole-body health.

May Support Healthy Brain Aging

Boron is linked to better mental clarity, memory, and brain electrical activity — especially in older adults (Integr Med reference).

Food Sources of Boron

You can find boron in:
• Dried fruits (raisins, prunes)
• Avocados
• Almonds, walnuts
• Broccoli, leafy greens
• Beans and chickpeas
• Apples, pears
• Coffee and red wine

Eating more plants generally means getting more boron.

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms suggest low boron?

There’s no specific deficiency test yet, but researchers watch for:
• Weak bones
• Poor wound healing
• Joint discomfort
• Low energy or mood issues

Can I get enough from food?

Many people can — but modern farming has decreased soil boron in some regions. Plant-rich diets provide more support.

Is boron safe?

Food amounts are considered safe. Supplements should be discussed with a doctor trained in natural healthcare — especially during pregnancy or when taking hormones.

Bottom Line

Boron may be small, but its benefits are big — from bones and joints to hormones and inflammation. Eating more boron-rich foods is a simple way to support whole-body health.

References

  1. Angle Orthod (2009) 79 (5): 984–990. Stimulation of Bone Formation by Dietary Boron in an Orthopedically Expanded Suture in Rabbits
  2. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2009;23(3):195-203. Boron and fish oil have different beneficial effects on strength and trabecular microarchitecture of bone
  3. Environ Health Perspect. 1994 Nov;102 Suppl 7(Suppl 7):35-43. The biochemical effects of physiologic amounts of dietary boron in animal nutrition models
  4. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2010 Oct;24(4):243-50. Boron regulates mineralized tissue-associated proteins in osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1)
  5. Presse Med. 1990 Jun 2;19(22):1050-2. [Treatment of deep wounds with loss of tissue. Value of a 3 percent boric acid solution]
  6. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2000 Oct;14(3):168-73. Effects of boron derivatives on extracellular matrix formation
  7. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2002;16(4):239-44. Mechanisms implicated in the effects of boron on wound healing
  8. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2011 Jan;25(1):54-8 Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines
  9. Morgentaler A. Testosterone for Life: Recharge Your Vitality, Sex Drive, Muscle Mass, and Overall Health. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2009. p. 65.
  10. J Androl. Sep-Oct 2012;33(5):817-23 The comparison of the aging male symptoms (AMS) scale and androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM) questionnaire to detect androgen deficiency in middle-aged men
  11. Environ Health Perspect. 1994;102(suppl 7):55–58. Effects of dietary boron in rats fed a vitamin D-deficient diet.
  12. Environ Health Perspect. 1994 Nov;102 Suppl 7(Suppl 7):35-43. The biochemical effects of physiologic amounts of dietary boron in animal nutrition models
  13. J Trace Elem Exp Med. 1990;3:45–54. Effect of boron depletion and repletion on blood indicators of calcium status in humans fed a magnesium-low diet
  14. J Diet Suppl. 2009;6(3):211–226. Calcium fructoborate: plant-based dietary boron for human nutrition.
  15. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2011;25(1):54–58. Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines
  16. 2000;16(7–8):512–51 The emergence of boron as nutritionally important throughout the life cycle.
  17. J Anim Sci. 2003;81(10):2552–2561. Effect of boron supplementation of pig diets on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma.
  18. Newnham RE. Essentiality of boron for healthy bones and joints. Environ Health Perspect. 1994;102(suppl 7):83–85.
  19. Newnham R. Discovering the cure for arthritis. Nutr Health. 2004;17(4):281–284
  20. Scorei R, Mitrut P, Petrisor I, Scorei I. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the effect of calcium fructoborate on systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia markers for middle-aged people with primary osteoarthritis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011;144(1–3):253–263.
  21. Korkmaz M, Sayli U, Sayli BS, et al. Estimation of human daily boron exposure in a boron-rich area. Br J Nutr. 2007;98(3):571–575.
  22. Helliwell TR, Kelly SA, Walsh HP, et al. Elemental analysis of femoral bone from patients with fractured neck of femur or osteoarthrosis. Bone. 1996;18(2):151–157.
  23. Travers RL, Rennie GC, Newnham RE. Boron and arthritis: the results of a double-blind pilot study. J Nutr Environ Med. 1990;1(2):127–132.
  24. Scorei R, Mitrut P, Petrisor I, Scorei I. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the effect of calcium fructoborate on systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia markers for middle-aged people with primary osteoarthritis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011;144(1–3):253–263.
  25. Coban FK, Ince S, Kucukkurt I, Demirel HH, Hazman O. Boron attenuates malathion-induced oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in rats. Drug Chem Toxicol [published online ahead of print October 24, 2014]
  26. Turkez H, Geyikoglu F, Tatar A, Keles MS, Kaplan I. The effects of some boron compounds against heavy metal toxicity in human blood. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2012;64(1–2):93–101.
  27. J Appl Toxicol. 2008 Jul;28(5):658-64 Effects of boric acid and borax on titanium dioxide genotoxicity
  28. Scorei RI, Popa R., Jr Boron-containing compounds as preventive and chemotherapeutic agents for cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2010;10(4):346–351.
  29. Cui Y, Winton MI, Zhang ZF, et al. Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk. Oncol Rep. 2004;11(4):887–892
  30. Gallardo-Williams MT, Maronpot RR, Wine RN, Brunssen SH, Chapin RE. Inhibition of the enzymatic activity of prostate-specific antigen by boric acid and 3-nitrophenyl boronic acid. Prostate. 2003;54(1):44–49.
  31. Barranco WT, Eckhert CD. Boric acid inhibits human prostate cancer cell proliferation. Cancer Lett. 2004;216(1):21–29.
  32. Nielsen FH. Update on human health effects of boron. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2014;28(4):383–387.
  33. Bolaños L, Lukaszewski K, Bonilla I, Blevins D. Why boron? Plant Physiol Biochem. 2004;42(11):907–912.
  34. Ralston NV, Hunt CD. Diadenosine phosphates and S-adenosylmethionine: novel boron binding biomolecules detected by capillary electrophoresis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2001;1527(1–2):20–30.
  35. Mouchiroud L, Houtkooper RH, Auwerx J. NAD+ metabolism: a therapeutic target for age-related metabolic disease. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol. 2013;48(4):397–408