Boron citrate, a bioavailable source of the trace mineral boron, may promote bone health by improving calcium utilization, while also showing potential for maintaining healthy hormone balance and providing anti-inflammatory effects.
Boron is the fifth atomic element, meaning that a boron atom contains five protons. It is a relatively rare element that doesn’t occur naturally in pure form on Earth. Pure boron can be produced in the laboratory, although this is difficult due to its strong tendency to form refractory compounds with other elements.
Boron is an essential element for all organisms, although a nutritional deficiency of boron doesn’t occur naturally. The U.S. National Institutes of Health estimates that humans typically consume more than two milligrams of boron per day, and the minimum requirement is believed to be much less. The role of boron in nutrition is therefore not well understood.
A study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that boron supplements postmenopausal women reduced their excretion of calcium. This result indicates that boron may play a significant role in bone formation, although the USDA study could not determine whether these effects of boron were medicinal or nutritional.
Boron citrate is typically used in health supplements to provide boron in bioavailable form. It has the chemical formula BC6H5O7, where B stands for boron and C6H5O7 is the formula for citrate. Citrate is commonly used in nutritional supplements since it breaks down quickly in the stomach.
The most common uses for boron citrate in health supplements deal with bones. They may also be used for managing healthy hormone levels and inflammation management.
The most significant signs of boron deficiency are believed to be poor hair quality, although this is unverified in humans. Conditions involving an abnormal metabolism of magnesium or calcium may also benefit from boron supplements. Low bone mass is the most obvious of these signs, although other bone conditions may also mean you need boron. Additional signs that boron could help you include an imbalance of sex hormones and thyroid hormone.
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