Physiology

Physiology and Pharmacology, 15 (3), 403-414

and

Autumn 2011 [Article in Persian]

Pharmacology

1387 1 12

Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma

steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines
Mohammad Reza Naghii1*, Mahmood Mofid2, Ali Reza Asgari 3, Mahdi Hedayati 4, Maryam Sadat Daneshpour4
*

1. Sport Physiology Research Center and Nutrition Group, Health School, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2. Dept. Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3. Sport Physiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4. Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran.
Received: 30 Apr 2011

Accepted: 5 Aug 2011

Abstract
Introduction: Boron possesses widespread properties and is important for human and animal nutrition. Since Boron
is rapidly bioavailable, the objective of the present study was to determine whether acute (hourly or daily), and weekly
supplementation could have any significant biological effects on the synthesis of steroids as well as inflammatory
biomarkers.
Methods: Eight male volunteers participated in experiments on three occasions (day 0, 1 and 7). On the first day
(day 0), a blood sample was collected at 8.00 A. M, followed by ingestion of placebo. On the next day
(supplementation- day 1), similar procedure was followed by ingestion of 10 mg of boron capsule. On both occasions
samples of blood were collected every 2 h for the next 6 h. Subjects consumed a capsule of 10 mg boron every day and
on day 7, blood collection was carried out again at 8.00 A.M. Independent sample t-tests were used to evaluate the
differences.
Results: Plasma boron was significantly increased following hourly (P=0.002) and weekly (P=0.000) consumption
of boron. After one week of supplementation, free testosterone levels were significantly increased (P<= 0.02) and
estradiol concentrations were significantly decreased (P<= 0.01). Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), cortisol and Vitamin D
showed slight non significant, increases. The ratios of free testosterone/testosterone (FT/T) (P<= 0.001), free
testosterone/estradiol (FT/E2) (P<= 0.004) and testosterone/estradiol (T/E2) (P<= 0.009) were significantly increased.
Also, all 3 inflammatory biomarkers were decreased after supplementation.
Conclusion: Although there are previous studies that report a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines induced by
boron consumption, to our knowledge, this is the first human study reporting an increase in plasma free testosterone
concentrations following consumption of a boron supplement. This indicates a possible protective role against diseases
of pathological conditions for this microelement.
Key words: Boron, Supplementation, Steroids, Cytokines
*

Corresponding author e-mail: naghiimr@yahoo.com

Available online at: www.phypha.ir/ppj

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2.600.52

2.520.62

)Total Testosterone (ng/ml

0.70

9.584.32

9.424.59

)Free Testosterone (pg/ml

0.40

658142

645137

)Dihydrotestosterone (pg/ml

0.70

35.8013.30

36.9013.50

)Estradiol (pg/ml

0.000

29.708.00

32.209.40

)Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (nmol/L

0.06

4.071.73

4.632.29

)Cortisol (ug/dl

0.70

2.161.21

2.291.42

)Luteinizing Hormone (IU/L

0.9

35.7012.60

36.2015.90

)Vitamin D (nmol/L

0.005

909783

13721182

)hsCRP (ng/ml) (n=7

0.6

1.170.65

1.320.65

)IL-6 (pg/ml

0.04

8.583.86

10.504.14

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12.00 P.M

10.00 A.M

8.00 A.M

14.00 P.M

12.00 P.M

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2.590.61

3.200.60

)TT (ng/ml

2.690.62

2.480.52

2.630.44

2.480.64

9.455.10

11.834.60

)FT (pg/ml

11.254.30

8.924.20

8.554.30

9.814.30

9.014.80

741152

707176

631119

636131

643129

641155

652145

)Estradiol (pg/ml

33.8015.30

32.011.20

41.6012.90

36.8012.30

33.5013.00

40.3016.00

42.3316.47

* 29.407.60

*29.507.60

*30.089.50

32.309.40

32.509.80

31.9010.10

32.999.97

)SHBG(nmol/L

3.962.05

3.701.52

4.551.71

4.012.12

4.181.69

5.702.80

7.934.62

)Cortisol (ug/dl

2.201.35

2.131.38

2.161.35

2.221.40

2.471.62

2.181.39

1.740.70

)LH (IU/L

)DHT (pg/ml

35.8213.49

)Vitamin D (nmol/L

14601233

)hsCRP (ng/ml) (n=7

1.170.65

1.320.65

1.551.05

)IL-6 (pg/ml

* 8.503.80

10.504.10

12.323.13

)TNF- (pg/ml

35.7012.60
892767

36.2715.30
894831

942874

12841175

12871192

15451342

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P Value

0.73

3.320.56

3.200.60

)Total Testosterone (ng/ml

0.02

15.183.07

11.834.60

)Free Testosterone (pg/ml

0.34

791120

741152

0.01

25.8111.25

42.3316.47

)Estradiol (pg/ml

0.27

31.449.06

32.999.97

)Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (nmol/L

0.25

10.104.88

7.934.62

)Cortisol (ug/dl

0.40

2.061.01

1.740.70

)Luteinizing Hormone (IU/L

0.32

38.3612.09

35.8213.49

)Vitamin D (nmol/L

0.11

795734

14601233

)hsCRP (ng/ml) (n=7

0.09

0.870.15

1.551.05

)IL-6 (pg/ml

0.05

9.973.23

12.323.13

)TNF- (pg/ml

0.001

4.661.08

3.621.02

)FT/T (pg/ml/ng/ml

0.004

0.670.29

0.310.15

)FT/E2 (ng/ml

0.009

148.858.7

91.6854.8

)T/E2 (ng/ml

0.48

33.2113.4

31.1314.7

)T/SHBG (ng/dl

0.29

0.240.02

0.230.01

)DHT/T (ng/ml

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P0.05 .

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