Boron...have you added it to your regime? Any effect on your thyroid levels?

[TiggerMe]

Keen to hear anyone's experiences please 😊

[arTistapple]

No but just yesterday I was reading a rather long list of lesser known minerals for ‘conversion’ of T4 to T3, including boron. My thinking was since it’s very small amounts of at least half a dozen, a supplement containing all of them in the correct proportions could be prepared. Perhaps not a big enough market, though I can’t believe that.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I haven’t come across a boron supplement, but understand that peanut butter and avocado are good sources;

verywellhealth.com/best-bor....

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Buddy195]

Hmm... from what I can see it's much like selenium and where your peanuts or avocado are grown, if there is any boron uptake available.

I did search mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/ukso/hom...... but no mention of Boron

[RedApple Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

Avocados can be high in histamine too 😞 Was ages before I realised they were causing my histamine bucket to fill up quicker.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to RedApple]

Yep, me too... you won't find the toxic little blighters in my basket, no matter how trendy they are 🤨

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Buddy195]

Seems we do have boron in the country though... perhaps I should be looking at water analysis

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

Extract...

Discussion

This paper shows that the distribution of boron within the major LOIS rivers is related to both hydrological and source contribution factors. Much of the boron input to the river is derived from sewage discharges and the levels of boron are highest during baseflow periods when dilution of sewage inputs are at their lowest. The levels of boron are related to the flux contributions of sewage and land and mine runoff linked to the degree of dilution by rainfall. Most of this boron is accountable

🤢

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

My local water supply...

Boron mg/l average = 0.061

[helvella Administrator]

I'll do what I (almost) always do at a time like this, quote the ODS!

Home > Health Information > Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets > Boron > Boron - Health Professional

Boron

Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/B...

In this case, it has rather too much "don't know", "more research needed" (not exact quotes!)

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

There seem to be a few posts in the bone density/osteo HU forum recently about boron, Lottyplum might know more 🌱

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

Yes, a fair bit about bone health (I not come across before, though likely before my brain had re-engaged) but when I first searched Boron it came up as a possible goitrogen but then these are today's AI results...

So it would seem they haven't really found the answer, I'd assume we are more comparable to gilts than rams as we make NDT from porcine 🫤🤷‍♀️

[helvella Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

But why is all current prescription-standard desiccated thyroid porcine?

At least ovine and bovine sources have been used. And I think some others have been considered.

Seasons!

Both time of year and reproductive seasons.

Availability of animals.

Stability of metabolism - being very different between summer and winter in stock in fields. Less variation in animals kept in sties.

Oestrus being extremely seasonal in ovines and bovines. And that has numerous effects on their bodies, their hormones.

There is less variation in porcine thyroid hormone levels.

This was largely realised before the first world war. But we have much better refrigeration which allows storage of unprocessed and processed thyroid which means that seasonality is not quite so important.

I don't think there is any "more similar" basis for the decision - though it is true that we are more genetically similar to porcine.

[Lottyplum in reply to Regenallotment]

I’m trying to find out more as only just engaged with this issue when trying to find out more about my bone health since being diagnosed with osteopenia - not from the local NHS Endo who ordered the Dexa scan or GP who received the report but from my private Endo to whom I forwarded all the paperwork regarding my thyroid journey 12 months after my scan! Couldn’t make it up! Any wonder why I’ve little faith in the NHS! I’m taking BoneBalance and looking at other ways to improve my bone health.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Lottyplum]

We are all in the same boat there I'm afraid, I did a private Dexa scan and found osteopenic thighs... did you see todays offer on BoneBalance 🤗

[Lottyplum in reply to TiggerMe]

I did and ordered! Thank you! Just sorting my MMH blood test and for the life of me cannot remember the coupon code! Help!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Lottyplum]

THYROIDUK10

[Lottyplum in reply to TiggerMe]

Thankyou!!😬

[radd]

When my son broke his leg, my nutritionist suggested he supplement boron to help heal the bone.

What do you want it for E?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to radd]

Interesting... As you say bone health (just ordered some more BoneBalance 10% off 🙂)

Realize I know nothing of Boron

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I'm hoping Katherine1234 will jump in as a boron user and the instigator of todays rabbit hole 😅

[Katherine1234 in reply to TiggerMe]

TiggerMe I am around and will be back later. I am just doing my invoicing and cooking a roast beef dinner. Bear with me. Well done on your digging Xx

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Katherine1234]

No rush, you enjoy 😋... I thought a post would be useful to see what we do or don't know as a collective

[Katherine1234 in reply to TiggerMe]

Sorry I am so late in coming in on this post TiggerMe. I cannot really add much to the post. I originally started to take boron 5mgs a day for my teeth as the enamel was wearing and they were getting weak. It was only after do some more research that I realised it could actually help to build bone in large amounts. It is also good for the brain and moods. It is a natural mineral and does a lot of good things in our body. Brain likes it too.

[sparkly]

I've read boron is said to possibly lower high shbg levels but not read of anyone who has taken it and achieved lower levels

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to sparkly]

It seems to be little studied doesn't it and plenty of guess work 🤷‍♀️

[sparkly in reply to TiggerMe]

I read or listen more about boron on US sites. Don't really hear much about it in the UK.Saying that, I like to listen to functional practitioners about thyroid issues in the US. Passes an hour when out walking or on the treadmill

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to sparkly]

It would seem the US are aware of their low levels of boron... struggling to find out what UK soils/ water provide, then again much of our fresh food is imported🤔

I'm a bit of a podcast listener when out walking, got a little caught out yesterday with the latest one... zoe.com/learn/menopause-sle...

She kept banging on about things best not discussed in a quaint English village 😆 I really must buy some headphones as I just broadcast to all at the moment 😳

[sparkly in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks for link on Zoe, looks loads to read and listen too. I only looked at Lingo website the other day regarding cgm.Ooh headphones a must.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

prunes are a good source of boron

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/114....

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm thinking 100g of prunes a day could be quite explosive? 🧨

Also that would mean 40g sugar 🫤

[Lottyplum in reply to SlowDragon]

I need a bucket load every day so think I should have plenty of boron!!😵‍💫

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Lottyplum]

Aha... do you think they have any effect on your thyroid levels?

[Lottyplum in reply to TiggerMe]

Because constipation is and always has been a major issue with my Hashimotos, prunes are part of my daily regime so not sure it's impact, other than without it, even on T4/T3 combo, I would struggle without. So I'm assuming I get plenty of boron from my daily prunes with my gf breakfast cereal+natural yoghurt!!

[humanbean]

I've taken boron very occasionally, although I've actually run out at the moment. I read it was good for bone health but struggle to keep taking all my supplements - there are so many of them!

Look up the name of your water provider, then search for their latest "water quality report". The one for my local water provider gives me levels of all sorts of minerals, including boron, and also tells me what the "regulatory limit" is and also the min, max, and mean levels are in my water (per litre). The report in my area is based on one sample per year. I don't know if this is standard for all water companies or not.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to humanbean]

Ah good idea, I bet it’s in San Pelligrino there seems to be all sorts in that 💡

[humanbean in reply to Regenallotment]

When I talked about looking up the water quality report I was talking about tap water, but I assume bottled water must have to go through a similar type of water quality check in order to be sold to the public.

It would be nice to have bottled water coming out of my taps, but probably rather expensive.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to humanbean]

I would think if they want to market it as a mineral water it would be the case

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to humanbean]

Mine offers annual, quarterly or monthly results, how does it compare?...

Boron mg/l average 0.061 last month

Annual average 0.043

UK Limit being 1

[Wua13262348]

Oh Tigger Me , I wish you had posted this a week ago. I sent for a hair mineral analysis test kit and got it a few days ago. It was a little extra to test boron, but I didn't bother as don't really know anything about boron. If you want to test your levels of boron , you can do it this way.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Wua13262348]

Sorry 🫤 I didn't know anything about it myself until a few days ago, who did you use?

[Wua13262348 in reply to TiggerMe]

Mindovermetal.co.uk

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Wua13262348]

Great name 😆

Interesting range of tests and not silly expensive

I've not come across Viva Health Labs, Windsor?

[Wua13262348 in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes, they do have an interesting range, and not over the top either. I particularly wanted the molybdenum, but you get so much more for your money than that. That test gets posted on, post free to the USA. As I mentioned to Helvella in a post the other day, I believe that in a hair test you are supposed to supplement what is over range, rather than under. Probably not as simple as that. I think the results are read in conjunction with one another,and really needs a functional medicine person to translate it. They do seem to provide an explanation with it, however. Copper, selenium and zinc in the one test , and cheaper than the Blue Horizon one for that. But maybe not as straightforward to define exactly what it is telling you. Looked good value for money.

No, don't know anything about the Windsor lab.

Bertwills was looking at a Smartnutrition test for B vits, but it seemed a bit weird, and a bit expensive.

[Katherine1234 in reply to Wua13262348]

I did a hair mineral test Wua. Mine were all in range or just borderline, including boron. Magnesium and salt were so high they were way off the chart! I use grey unrefined Celtic salt and magnesium every day. I started to get migraine aura's without the headaches and knew this to be magnesium, if we are under stress or do a lot of sport we can have high magnesium burn rates. I pumped up my magnesium and my migraine aura's went within 2 weeks.

Apparently I must be a poor absorber of magnesium with such off the chart levels, and salt as well, which salt would make sense with my chronically low blood pressure. The doctors are always saying eat more salt drink more water. I am going to start magnesium transdermal. I am hoping this is the solution I am looking for. As magnesium absorbs very well through the skin.

There is an equation for magnesium levels, I will try to find it. It did surprise me as I am slim, when I did mine I should be on 650 mgs of magnesium a day. People a lot bigger should be on a lot more. I was taking the standard 450mgs a day.

Funny enough I had no heavy metals in my hair sample.

[Wua13262348 in reply to Katherine1234]

Were magnesium and salt in your hair mineral test then? And because very high , you supplemented? I did read somewhere that with a hair mineral test you supplement anything that is over range.

[Katherine1234 in reply to Wua13262348]

Hi Wua, I was already taking 450 mgs of magnesium by capsule a day and adding celtic sea salt to some of my water. Both showed so high over range. I will have to supplement more of it. Apparently that shows it is not being absorbed. It also said to take more potassium as the ratio between magnesium and potassium was too far apart. Potassium was showing just in range.

[Wua13262348 in reply to Katherine1234]

Ah, thank you. So high over range levels are lack of absorption. Providing I provided enough hair, my results will be due next week. I already know blood results for Selenium are naturally over range. When I supplemented Selenium to almost toxic levels, being unaware I had up-regulated Selenium, blood levels of Folate, B12, Vit D and ferritin were testing at optimal. When I stopped supplementing Selenium, ferritin has been dropping ever since. Although I have up-regulated Selenium, I suspect I do need to supplement it. It will be very interesting to see what my report says. Fingers crossed they have enough hair!

[Wua13262348 in reply to Katherine1234]

Very interesting. I get the migraine auras without headache too.

You could also use magnesium soap to up your transdermal magnesium.

[Katherine1234 in reply to Wua13262348]

Thank you, I have just started using transdermal, I will look up the soap.