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Jake Ames, MD, HMD, is back to tell us about boron and how this marvelous mineral can benefit us!


I have been prescribing all of my patients the mineral boron my entire medical career. In this blog, I hope to convince you that all of us need to take extra boron as a supplement.

Boron is element number 5 on the periodic table. It was discovered on June 30, 1808, by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Louis Jacques Thénard. Since its discovery boron has been found to have many industrial and medical uses. Boron is also an essential plant nutrient. Its purpose is to maintain the integrity of cell walls. However, soil concentrations greater than 1.0 ppm lead to necrosis in leaves as well as poor overall growth performance.

The main uses of boron today are in making fiberglass and high-strength, lightweight structural materials. In its very pure form, it is used as a dopant in semiconductors. It is used to make neodymium magnets and is used in the nuclear industry for shielding and as a neutron absorber. It is used as a fertilizer, insecticide and in laundry detergent. It has so many uses that I could write pages on it. Today I will talk about its biological use in humans.

My main uses of boron are:

  • to keep my patient’s bones strong
  • reverse osteoporosis
  • treat arthritis
  • help prevent and treat prostate cancer
  • help protect one from radiation

Boron and Lugols iodine are accepted treatments for radiation poisoning. I use it for intestinal, vaginal, and eye yeast infections in the form of borax.

Sources of boron are found in the following fruits and vegetables:

  • red grapes
  • non-citrus fruits
  • avocados
  • beans
  • legumes
  • nuts,
  • red grapes
  • apples
  • pears
  • plums

If the soil is depleted of boron, you will find little boron in your fruits and vegetables.

Scientists have not decided whether boron is an essential mineral for humans and mammals. My colleagues and I believe that it is an essential mineral, and I would not wait until there is a scientific consensus to start supplementing with boron. NASA has their astronauts taking boron to protect them from ionizing radiation.
The largest known boron deposits are in Turkey, the largest producer of boron minerals. Next is the United States.

Insecticide

Boric acid is more toxic to insects than to mammals and is routinely used as an insecticide. Boric acid is used as an insecticide, notably against ants, fleas, and cockroaches.

Antifungal

Boric acid has antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties and for these reasons is applied as a water clarifier in swimming pool water treatment. Mild solutions of boric acid have been used as eye antiseptics.

Osteoporosis and Arthritis

Boronn supplementation at 3mg a day in postmenopausal women reduces urinary calcium excretion and elevates the serum concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone.
Where boron intake is low (<1-3 mg/day) in areas around the world there is more osteoporosis and arthritis compared to 3-10 mg a day. I have my severe degenerative osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis patients taking up to 20 mg a day of boron. I also add gelatin, collagen, copper, vitamin C, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, Bio Sil, and strontium to this regimen. See my arthritis and osteoporosis blogs.
Boron Toxicity

Boron is a very safe mineral to supplement with. It has a LD50 (the lethal dose of 50% of animals tested) of 6 grams per kilogram of body weight. Substances with LD50 above 2 grams are considered nontoxic. I usually prescribe 12 mg a day. With prostate cancer patients or patients with severe arthritis and osteoporosis, I prescribe no more than 20 mg a day

Borax

Borax contains around 11% boron. It is sold as a multipurpose cleaner, and the word boron was coined from borax.

With low to medium-weight people use 1/8 teaspoon of borax powder and with heavier weight 1/4 teaspoon per liter of water. One drinks the water spaced out during the day and does this for 4 or 5 days a week as long as required.

Boric Acid

The type of boron we obtain from food is primarily boric acid, B(OH)3, which is naturally present only in plants.

Boric acid has antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties and for these reasons is applied as a water clarifier in swimming pool water treatment.[108] Mild solutions of boric acid have been used as eye antiseptics.

Congenital endothelial dystrophy type 2, a rare form of corneal dystrophy, is linked to mutations in SLC4A11 gene that encodes a transporter reportedly regulating the intracellular concentration of boron.[131]
Borax is the sodium salt of the weak boric acid. Because sodium is more strongly alkaline, this makes a solution of borax strongly alkaline with a pH between 9 and 10 (pH 7 is neutral). When ingested, it reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form boric acid and sodium chloride. The boron content of Borax is 11.3% while for boric acid it is 17.5% or about 50% higher.

Prostate Cancer

Boron selectively kills prostate cancer cells and is harmless to normal prostate gland cells. It can lower one’s risk of prostate cancer by 64% at adequate levels. No one knows the optimal mg amount of boron to give to prostate cancer patients. I usually prescribe 20 mg a day to these patients. It lowers PSA in my patients and decreases the size of the prostate gland in my patients with enlarged prostate glands (BPH). I also use Lugols iodine, vitamins D3, K2 (MK-7), selenium and zinc.

Increase in Brain Function

Boron increases concentration, memory, and better motor control. It increases more slow brain waves.

More health benefits are being discovered yearly about boron. I prescribe boron, Lugols iodine, selenium and other minerals to all of my patients.


No part of this blog may be reproduced in any form without written permission. The content on this blog was written by Jake Ames, MD, HMD and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment by your primary physician.