The effect of boron supplementation on lean body mass, plasma testosterone levels, and strength in male bodybuilders.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized controlled trial
PubMed 8508192 · doi:10.1123/ijsn.3.2.140
What was done
Nineteen male bodybuilders (ages 20–27) were randomized to receive either 2.5 mg of oral boron daily (n = 10) or a placebo (n = 9) for 7 weeks. Total and free plasma testosterone, plasma boron levels, lean body mass, and strength (1-RM squat and 1-RM bench press) were evaluated on Days 1 and 49.
What was found
Plasma boron significantly increased in the boron group from 20.1 ± 7.7 ppb to 32.6 ± 27.6 ppb, while the control group decreased from 15.1 ± 14.4 ppb to 6.3 ± 5.5 ppb (p < 0.05). Analysis of variance indicated no significant effect of boron supplementation on total testosterone, free testosterone, lean body mass, 1-RM squat, or 1-RM bench press. Both groups demonstrated significant baseline-to-posttest increases in total testosterone, lean body mass, squat, and bench press over the 7 weeks.
Why it matters
This study provides randomized controlled evidence that boron supplementation does not enhance testosterone production, muscle mass, or strength in resistance-trained males beyond the effects of training itself.
Limits
The sample size was very small (n = 19), which substantially limits statistical power to detect small differences. The abstract does not report whether blinding was implemented, does not describe dietary controls or specific training regimens, and only tested a single dose (2.5 mg/day) in young males.
Cited by
- context Boron supplementation at a dose of 6 to 12 milligrams suppresses SHBG and liberates free testosterone.