Boron element is widely present in soil and water, and may be an essential mineral for animals and humans. The dietary intake of boron is about 1 or 2 mg per day. Boron has the potential to influence a number of metabolic processes.  An absolute requirement for boron has not been definitively demonstrated in animals and humans. However, experiments with boron supplementation or deprivation show that boron is involved in calcium and bone metabolism, and its effects are more marked when other nutrients (cholecalciferol, magnesium) are deficient. Boronated compounds have been shown to be potent anti-osteoporotic, anti-inflammatory, hypolipemic, anti-coagulant and anti-neoplastic agents both in vitro and in vivo in animals.

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Use of Boron mineral supplement
Dietary boron influences the activity of many metabolic enzymes, as well as the metabolism of steroid hormones and several micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Supplementation in rats and chicks has been shown to increase bone strength. Boron may also play a role in improving arthritis, plasma lipid profiles, and brain function. Additional research is necessary to further clarify boron's influence in human and animal physiology, as well as determine a dietary requirement for humans.

Side effects, risk and safety
Not enough research has been done with boron supplements to determine their safety and side effects. For this reason I suggest you skip a day or two a week until we learn more about the long term safety.

Hormone level influence
Supplementation with 10 mg of boron a day results in the recovery of 84% of the dose in the urine and a significant increase in plasma estradiol concentration, but no effect on plasma lipoproteins. In rats, increasing the intake of boron through the drinking water is reflected in the tissue concentrations, results in an increase in plasma testosterone and vitamin D, and results in a decrease in HDL cholesterol. Boron excess has toxic effects on reproductive function.

Boronic compounds
Boronic acid compounds have been used, because of their unique structural features, for the development of potent enzyme inhibitors, boron neutron capture agents for cancer therapy, and as antibody mimics that recognize biologically important saccharides. Consequently, there has been a surge of interests in boronic acid compounds.

Boron and prostate cancer
Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk.
Oncol Rep. 2004. Cui Y, et al. Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Boron affects human steroid hormone levels. Circulating testosterone and estradiol levels have been proposed to modify prostate cancer risk. However, the association between dietary boron intake and the risk of prostate cancer has not been evaluated by any epidemiological study. We explored the association between dietary boron intake and the risk of prostate cancer in the USA. Our analysis was based on data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Cross-sectional case-control study design was employed by comparing boron intake of 95 prostate cancer cases with that of 8,720 male controls. After controlling for age, race, education, smoking, body mass index, dietary caloric intake, and alcohol consumption, increased dietary boron intake was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer with a dose-response pattern. The adjusted odds ratio was 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.98) for the highest quartile of boron intake comparing to the lowest quartile (P for trend = 0.0525). The observed association should be interpreted with caution because of the small case sample size and the nature of the cross-sectional study design, but deserve further investigation.

Boron and athletic performance, body building
Plasma boron and the effects of boron supplementation in males.
Environ Health Perspect. 1994. Green NR, Ferrando AA. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University, AL.
Recently, a proliferation of athletic supplements has been marketed touting boron as an ergogenic aid capable of increasing testosterone. The effect of boron supplementation was investigated in male bodybuilders. Ten male bodybuilders (aged 20 to 26) were given a 2.5-mg boron supplement, while nine male bodybuilders (aged 21 to 27) were given a placebo for 7 weeks. Plasma total and free testosterone, plasma boron, lean body mass, and strength measurements were determined on day 1 and day 49 of the study. Twelve subjects had boron values at or above the detection limit with median value of 25 ng/ml (16 ng/ml lower quartile and 33 ng/ml upper quartile). Of the ten subjects receiving boron supplements, six had an increase in their plasma boron. Analysis of variance indicated no significant effect of boron supplementation on any of the other dependent variables. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in total testosterone, lean body mass, and one repetition maximum (RM) squat and one RM bench press. The findings suggest that 7 weeks of bodybuilding can increase total testosterone, lean body mass, and strength in lesser-trained bodybuilders, but boron supplementation affects these variables not at all.

Lung cancer
Higher amounts of boron in the diet are associated with lower risk of lung cancer in women. It is possible that dietary boron may play a role in defending against cancer initiation due to inflammation. Boron is found widely in the food supply. Food sources of dietary boron include coffee, wine, apples, peanuts, grapes, orange juice, salads, beans, bananas, and broccoli. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008.

Boron toxicity
General, reproductive, developmental, and endocrine toxicity of boronated compounds.
Reprod Toxicol. 1998. Fail PA, et al. Center for Life Sciences and Toxicology, Research Triangle Institute, NC
Boric acid and inorganic borates are abundant in nature. They are widely used in industrial, agricultural, cosmetic, and numerous smaller applications. These compounds are toxic to all species tested at high doses, but they are not carcinogenic or mutagenic. The major toxicities are reproductive and developmental. Testicular effects occurred at approximately 26 mg boron equivalents/kg body weight per day. New data on endocrine toxicity includes altered follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone. Because these hormonal changes may be secondary effects of testicular toxicity, borates are not suspect as endocrine disrupters. The most sensitive of all the endpoints are prenatal growth and morphologic development in the rat. Considering the estimated human exposure levels and a safety factor of 30, humans are not at significant risk of reproductive failure due to borates from environmental sources. The margin of exposure is estimated at 72 for males and 129 for females. Thus, the likelihood of human toxicity caused by boric acid and inorganic borates from exposure during normal activities is remote.

Element boron
Boron compounds have been known for thousands of years, but boron element was not discovered until the early 1800s. Boron element is not found free in nature, but occurs as orthoboric acid usually found in certain volcanic spring waters and as borates in boron and colemantie. Important sources of boron are ore rasorite (kernite) and tincal (borax ore). Both of these ores are found in the Mojave Desert. Tincal is the most important source of boron from the Mojave.

Boron in plants
Boron, with pectin, is essential for vascular plants as a component of cell walls, and it stabilizes cell membranes. It is required for the growth of pollen tubes and is involved in membrane transport, stimulating H(+)-pumping ATPase activity and K+ uptake. However, a high boron concentration in the soils is toxic to plants and some boronated derivatives are used as herbicides.

Boron carbide
Boron carbide is a black crystalline material of high hardness. Typical hot-pressed boron carbide components are a composite of primarily B4C with B6C, and carbon (graphite). Boron carbide applications include loose abrasives, hot-pressed shot blast nozzles, armor tiles, and other wear-resistant components.

Periodic table of the elements boron atom
Name: boron, symbol: B, atomic number: 5.

New Boron Product
Triple Boron by Source Naturals became available in 2006. They claim, "Boron is excellent for strengthening bones and bone mineral density, and also promotes healthy brain and cognitive function."

questions
Q.  I am taking boron to increase testosterone up to 9 mg a day. Does boron increase testosterone?
   A. In a rat study, boron did increase testosterone levels. However, whether this is maintained in the long run is difficult to say. Also, the long term risks of boron supplementation are not clearly understood. Boron excess may have toxic effects on reproductive function.

I came across a health website that says taking boron 3mg tablets every day reduces the size of the prostate by 35% after a while and also reduces the PSA levels by a substantial amount.
    As of April 2009, I have not seen any human studies regarding the use of boron supplements as a way to reduce prostate enlargement or reduce PSA levels.

I take female vitamins containing black cohosh and soy (not knowing how much...not listed). The supplement also has 2 mg of boron. I also have Osteoporosis and take a liquid calcium supplement containing the most absorbable form of calcium (calcium citrate). The product has 750 mcgs of boron. What I want to know is how much boron is safe to take with black cohosh and soy? (I feel great with taking the liquid calcium...and it also helps with Osteoporosis and a little bit of arthiritis that I have). I am feeling much more flexible, as I was taking apple cider vinegar for my acid reflux / hiatal hernina / stomach ulcer.....of which I no longer have symptoms of....as changed my diet. Thanks much, as I am unable to find the answer on any website.
    There is no research regarding the safety or interaction of boron with black cohosh and soy products, and no research on the multi year safety of using this mineral as a supplement therefore it is difficult to know or advise.