Boron

Boron/Drug Interactions:

  • Alzheimer's agentsAlzheimer's agents: In theory, boron may interact additively with Alzheimer's agents.
  • AnalgesicsAnalgesics: Some amine-boranes may have analgesic activities (4).
  • AndrogensAndrogens: Use of boron with testosterone-active drugs such as Testoderm? may result in increased testosterone effects.
  • AntacidsAntacids: Magnesium may interfere with the normal physiological effects of boron in the body (43; 43; 49). Sources of magnesium may include antacids containing magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate (milk of magnesia, Maalox?).
  • Anti inflammatory agentsAnti inflammatory agents: Some amine-boranes may have anti-inflammatory activities (4).
  • Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: According to anecdotal reports, supplemental boron may decrease insulin levels in the blood.
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: Based on mouse and rat studies, aliphatic, heterocyclic, and nucleoside amine-boranes and many boron derivatives may decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (4).
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: In in vitro and in vivo murine and human tumor models, borane adducts of simple aliphatic amines, heterocyclic amines, and nucleic acids showed cytotoxic properties by inhibiting DNA synthesis (4).
  • Antiviral agentsAntiviral agents: Some amine-boranes may have antiviral activities (4).
  • Arthritis agentsArthritis agents: Some amine-boranes may have anti-arthritic activities (4).
  • Dopamine agonistsDopamine agonists: Some amine-boranes may have dopamine receptor antagonist activity (4).
  • Dopamine antagonistsDopamine antagonists: Some amine-boranes may have dopamine receptor antagonist activity (4).
  • EstrogensEstrogens: In theory, use of boron with estrogen-active drugs such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy may result in increased estrogen effects (43).
  • Hepatotoxic agentsHepatotoxic agents: Chronic high exposure to boron may cause hepatic damage (35; 36).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: Nutritional boron can up-regulate 17beta-estradiol levels in women, including postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy.
  • Magnesium supplementsMagnesium supplements: Magnesium may interfere with the normal physiological effects of boron in the body (43; 43; 49). Sources of magnesium may include antacids containing magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate (milk of magnesia, Maalox?).
  • Nephrotoxic agentsNephrotoxic agents: Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • Osteoporosis agents: Osteoporosis agents: Base on animal and preliminary human studies, boron may play a role in mineral metabolism, with effects on calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D (50; 51; 43; 2; 4).
  • Renally eliminated drugsRenally eliminated drugs: Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • TestosteroneTestosterone: In theory, use of boron with estrogen-active drugs such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy may result in increased estrogen effects. Use of boron with testosterone-active drugs such as Testoderm? may result in increased testosterone effects.
  • Thyroid hormonesThyroid hormones: Based on secondary sources, boron may alter thyroid hormone levels.

    • Boron/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Alzheimer's herbsAlzheimer's herbs: In theory, boron may interact additively with herbs used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
  • AnalgesicsAnalgesics: Some amine-boranes may have analgesic activities (4).
  • AndrogensAndrogens: Use of boron with testosterone-active drugs such as Testoderm? may result in increased testosterone effects.
  • AntacidsAntacids: Magnesium may interfere with the normal physiological effects of boron in the body. Sources of magnesium may include antacids containing magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate (milk of magnesia, Maalox?).
  • Anti inflammatory herbsAnti inflammatory herbs: Some amine-boranes may have anti-inflammatory activities (4).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: Based on mouse and rat studies, aliphatic, heterocyclic, and nucleoside amine-boranes and many boron derivatives may decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (4).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In in vitro and in vivo murine and human tumor models, borane adducts of simple aliphatic amines, heterocyclic amines, and nucleic acids showed cytotoxic properties by inhibiting DNA synthesis (4).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Some amine-boranes may have antiviral activities (4).
  • Arthritis agentsArthritis agents: Some amine-boranes may have anti-arthritic activities (4).
  • CalciumCalcium: Boron supplementation may result in increased calcium levels in the blood, and may add to the effects of calcium or vitamin D supplementation.
  • Dopamine agonistsDopamine agonists: Some amine-boranes may have dopamine receptor antagonist activity (4).
  • Dopamine antagonistsDopamine antagonists: Some amine-boranes may have dopamine receptor antagonist activity (4).
  • Hepatotoxic herbsHepatotoxic herbs: Chronic high exposure to boron may cause hepatic damage (35; 36).
  • Hormonal herbs and supplementsHormonal herbs and supplements: Nutritional boron can up-regulate 17beta-estradiol levels in women, including postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy.
  • MagnesiumMagnesium: Magnesium may interfere with the normal physiological effects of boron in the body (43; 43; 49). Sources of magnesium may include antacids containing magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate (milk of magnesia, Maalox?).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: According to anecdotal reports, supplemental boron may decrease insulin levels in the blood.
  • Nephrotoxic agentsNephrotoxic agents: Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • Osteoporosis agentsOsteoporosis agents: Base on animal and preliminary human studies, boron may play a role in mineral metabolism, with effects on calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D (50; 51; 43; 2; 4).
  • Phosphates, phosphorusPhosphates, phosphorus: Supplemental doses of boron may reduce serum phosphorus concentrations.
  • PhytoestrogensPhytoestrogens: In theory, use of boron with estrogen-active herbs or supplements may result in increased estrogen effects (43).
  • Renally eliminated herbs and supplementsRenally eliminated herbs and supplements: Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: According to anecdotal reports, boron may alter thyroid hormone levels.
  • Vitamin DVitamin D: Boron supplementation may result in increased calcium levels in the blood, and may add to the effects of calcium or vitamin D supplementation. Based on animal study, nutritional intakes of boron have been shown to lessen the adverse consequences of vitamin D deficiency in rodents (11).

    • Boron/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • CalciumCalcium: Boron supplementation may result in increased calcium levels in the blood. In a comparative open trial, a combination product containing boron (Vitrum? osteomag) increased the level of general and ionized calcium in blood but did not cause hypercalcemia lowering the level of parathormone in blood (52).
  • CreatinineCreatinine: Boron exposure may cause chronic kidney disease (46).
  • Lipid panelLipid panel: Boron supplementation may decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (4).
  • Liver panelLiver panel: Chronic high exposure to boron may cause hepatic damage (35; 36).
  • PhosphorusPhosphorus: Supplemental doses of boron may reduce serum phosphorus concentrations (53).
  • Plasma vitamin D2Plasma vitamin D2: Supplementation of boron may result in increased plasma concentrations of D2 in men and women with low magnesium and copper diets (54; 55).
  • Plasma ionized and total calciumPlasma ionized and total calcium: Boron supplementation may result in increased concentrations of plasma ionized and total calcium as well as reduced serum calcitonin concentration and urinary excretion of calcium (54; 55).
  • Plasma copperPlasma copper: Boron supplementation may result in higher serum concentrations of plasma copper (54; 55).
  • Plasma magnesiumPlasma magnesium: Boron supplementation may result in increased plasma magnesium concentrations (56).
  • Plasma insulinPlasma insulin: According to anecdotal reports, boron may decrease plasma insulin levels.
  • Plasma thyroxine (T4)Plasma thyroxine (T4): According to anecdotal reports, boron may increase plasma thyroxine.
  • Serum estrogenSerum estrogen: Use of boron may result in increased endogenous estrogen (43).
  • Total testosteroneTotal testosterone: Boron supplementation may increase concentrations of serum testosterone (57).