What is boron used for in vitamins?

Boron is an element that has been receiving a lot of attention lately, and with good reason. It’s an important mineral that can play a key role in human health, especially when it comes to bone development and maintenance. But what exactly is boron used for in vitamins? And why should you care? Well buckle up buttercup, because we’re about to take a deep dive into the world of boron and vitamins.

What Is Boron?

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s back up and talk about what boron actually is. At its most basic level, boron is a chemical element with the symbol B and atomic number 5. It’s classified as a metalloid – which means it exhibits properties of both metals and nonmetals – but its platelets are also covered by graphene sheets rather than graphite-based carbon fibers.

Boron doesn’t exist naturally as an elemental form; instead, it’s found in compounds known as borates or boric acid derivatives. These substances are commonly used across various industries, including pharmaceuticals (more on this later), agriculture (as fertilizer), glassmaking (to give glass heat resistance), rocketry (yes really!), metallurgy(name-dropping here haha) ,and even nuclear energy! Sounds pretty impressive already right?

How Does Boron Help Us?

Now that we’ve got our heads around what boron actually is, let’s move on to how it helps us pesky humans out(so typical huh?). Although scientists are still studying all the ways that boron impacts our bodies(or probably their favorite subject matter until after coffee) , there are several areas where they have identified some benefits:

Bone Health

Perhaps one of the most-important(Yes! The most important thing ever if you wanna stay stronger) functions of boron concern bone health(Hank Green nodding approvingly). It’s been found that this mineral can help to increase the production of key bone-building components like collagen and calcium, which ultimately leads to stronger bones. In addition, some studies have suggested that boron helps prevent conditions such as osteoporosis by increasing bone density.

Arthritis Relief

Boron has also been studied for its potential effects on arthritis(which is painful AF!). Researchers believe that it may be helpful in reducing inflammation and pain associated with arthritis because it can reduce interleukin-1 levels(the body’s natural inflammatory response) and proteoglycans (which are proteins involved in forming cartilage).

Improved Brain Functioning

Some studies have found a link between boron intake and improved cognitive function(Huh? We’re not drinking Boron Juice yet!). There is still more research needed in this area but the premise behind it says that Boron could play a role in brain health by regulating neurotransmitters activity through helping Magnesium absorption(more on this later my beautiful people!).

Where Do I Get Boron?

The good news for all those seeking stardom(sorry excuse me ALL THOSE SEEKING BORON),boronis found naturally in many foods(all hail natural sources!) , so you don’t need to turn yourself into an industrial vacuum pump(yes! You read that right 😛 )or break open your chemistry set(please DON’T), to get enough of this beneficial mineral. Here are some examples :

  • Almonds
  • Avocados
  • Broccoli
  • Raisins(Gimme dat!)
  • Beans/ Lentils(Brings out Indian Kid living inside me)
    Plus fortified cereals like Rice Krispies(so technically u wont miss them either)

Another way(LEGALLY!)to ensure sufficient boron intake if you ain’t a foodie would be via supplementation(that sounds important)! Supplements containing anywhere from 3 to 25 milligrams of boron are available(you’re welcome) in pill, capsule or powder form(crossed my fingers for chewables). Just remember that supplementation ISN’T a substitute for nourishing foods(mention the period foodies!).

What Vitamins Have Boron In Them?

A number of vitamins contain boron as an ingredient(mighty important!) , most commonly in the form of boric acid. So let’s spill the tea as which vitamins these ACTUALLY are (and where to get our hands and mouths on them).

Multivitamins

If you’re someone who takes a multi-vitamin regularly(c’mmon people keep it at all times!), chances are good that it contains some boron. Check out your label(my confidant!). How cool is that!! Sound and easy way.

Calcium Supplements

In addition to multivitamins, calcium supplements often include small amounts(~1mg per serving)of(baton please)boron on their labels(So might wanna make sure your Calcium supplement has it covered).

Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium no doubt is vital but did you know how hard our body finds its absorption? Welp what if I tell u taking nutrient-rich sources with dietary minerals can fix this problem(MIDO claps ). And Boron comes there as a superhero(effortlessly mixing with Mg/Fe etc❤️), helping magnify your magnesium or iron intake(insanely generous right?). It’s also worth noting here that several studies have demonstrated increased benefits when combining magnesium supplements AND boron(so squad goals).

(Big breaths, at least now we’ve come down from names like hydrogen to mixtures 😛 )

To Summarize:

There’s still much scientists don’t understand about exactly how boron works in different tissues within humans(to be frank they haven’t told us anything empirical yet ;-;) , but the effects can be promising when it is present in adequate amounts(Take note people). To recap :

  • Boron helps with stronger bone health
  • Some believe it may also play a role in improving cognitive function(Vitamin for your smartness!)
  • It plays an important role in proper magnesium and calcium absorption(squad goals!)

Now that you know how wonderful boron really is, hopefully you have a better appreciation for why its addition to vitamins isn’t just some random thing(grinning).

The Final Word

It’s always worth remembering at this point that supplements shouldn’t replace completely our balanced diets(nudges self 🤦‍♀️) , but can provide support alongside them. Plus adding foods like raisins or avocados definitely makes everything more delicious.

As always, if you’re worried about your levels of any nutrient or mineral – including boron – it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider(their eyes light up as soon we tell them things we’re supplementing), who will take into account factors such as age, gender etc(there’s no greater relief than making informed healthy choices without freaking out right?).

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