Boron And Its Importance For The Immune System

Boron is a mineral that must be obtained from food as it cannot be produced in the body.

Supplementing boron has been shown to reduce levels of inflammation by 30-50% (depending on which type of blood test you’re looking at) (1). Studies show those who have higher baseline levels of inflammation are at increased risk of infection (2) and are more likely to be hospitalized once they are infected (3). Aside from infection outcomes and immunity, chronic inflammation can lead to diseases such as “allergies, atherosclerosis, cancer, neurodegenerative or autoimmune diseases” (4).

Boron has also been shown to improve wound healing (5). Wound healing is carried out by the immune system (6), so in a way, this further supports the idea that boron has the ability to improve the immune system.

Boron also has this very fascinating ability to reduce the breakdown of vitamin D (7). This effect can be so pronounced that even during the transition from autumn to winter vitamin D levels went up by 20% (7). This is a time when vitamin D levels should be decreasing. We already covered the importance of vitamin D for health and the immune system in previous articles (part 1, part 2). As mentioned in those articles there can a 2.9-fold variation in people’s responsiveness to the same dose of vitamin D. Part of the reason for this may be varying boron intakes. By ensuring we get a little bit of boron every day, we are helping our body make sure the levels of vitamin D are optimal for healthy immune function.

In rats, boron has also been shown to raise levels of antioxidant enzymes (8). Antioxidant enzymes play an important part in the functions of the immune system, including the killing of microbes (which includes bacteria and viruses) (9). As we mention in our other pages, magnesium, copper, zinc and selenium have all been shown to be important for our antioxidant enzymes.

Although the world health organisation has noted that levels of intake between 1-13mg are deemed acceptable (10), a comparison of clinical studies showed that the lowest dose of 1.5mg of boron yielded the best reductions in levels of an inflammatory marker called CRP, which reflects the levels of inflammation in the body (11). This is why we use 1.5mg of boron in our ThinkPharm Formula.

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For more information about how taking the ThinkPharm Formula would improve your life check out our other articles about how it was designed.

For a vitamin supplement that doesn’t profit from your misinformation and actually tries to improve your health, get your hands on the ThinkPharm Formula. Check out the formula on our product page.

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Disclaimer: Food supplements are intended to correct nutritional deficiencies, maintain an adequate intake of certain nutrients, or to support specific physiological functions. The ThinkPharm Formula (or any other food supplement) is not a medicine and therefore cannot and does not claim to treat or prevent disease. All content on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. None of the scientific studies quoted on this website qualify as proof or implication that ThinkPharm Health's supplements treat or prevent disease. Findings of scientific studies do not always represent reality. It is always difficult for scientific studies to reach accurate conclusions regarding nutrition and its relationship to diseases. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet and lifestyle. ThinkPharm Health is not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting on information from this website.

Health claims you can trust

All the health claims that are listed below and on our supplement package have been authorised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The EFSA reviews the evidence on different vitamins and minerals to ensure that there is enough evidence to make certain health claims.

Although the UK is no longer part of the EU it still relies on the EFSA's judgement for legally allowed claims.

Below are all the health claims we are allowed to use for the ThinkPharm Formula based on the abundance of evidence.

Over 40 EFSA authorised health claims

Hair, skin and nails

Contributes to the maintenance of normal hair: Zinc, Selenium, Biotin (B7)

Contributes to the maintenance of normal skin: Zinc, Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Iodine, Biotin (B7)

Contributes to the maintenance of normal nails: Zinc, Selenium

Contributes to normal hair and skin pigmentation: Copper

Bones, joints and muscle function

Contributes to the maintenance of normal bones: Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Zinc

Contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function: Vitamin D

Contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth: Vitamin D

Contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissues (tendons, ligaments and cartilage): Copper

Contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus: Vitamin D

Contributes to normal blood calcium levels: Vitamin D

Heart health

Contributes to normal heart function: Thiamin (B1)

Metabolism

Contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones: Iodine

Contributes to normal thyroid function: Iodine, Selenium

Contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels: Chromium

Contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism: Zinc, Chromium, Biotin (B7)

Contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism: Vitamin B6

Contributes to normal amino acid synthesis: Folate (B9)

Contributes to normal cysteine synthesis: Vitamin B6

Healthy cells

Contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress: Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Riboflavin (B2)

Has a role in the process of cell division: Vitamin D, Folate (B9), Vitamin B12

Contributes to normal DNA synthesis: Zinc, Folate (B9)

Contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism: Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folate (B9)

Cognitive function

Contributes to normal cognitive function: Zinc, Iodine

Contributes to normal mental performance: Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Contributes to normal synthesis of certain neurotransmitters: Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Mental Health

Contributes to normal psychological function: Thiamin (B1), Niacin (B3), Vitamin B6, Folate (B9), Biotin (B7), Vitamin B12

Contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system: Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Vitamin B6, Biotin (B7), Copper, Iodine

Energy levels

Contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue: Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Folate (B9), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12

Contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism: Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Biotin (B7), Vitamin B12, Copper, Iodine

Contributes to normal iron transport in the body: Copper

Contributes to normal iron metabolism: Riboflavin (B2), Copper

Contributes to normal red blood cell formation: Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B6, Folate (B9), Vitamin B12

Contributes to normal blood formation: Folate (B9)

Immune system

Contributes to the normal function of the immune system: Vitamin D, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Folate (B9), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12

Contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes: Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Biotin (B7)

Vision (eye health)

Contributes to the maintenance of normal vision: Zinc, Riboflavin (B2)

Reproductive and hormonal health

Contributes to regulation of hormonal activity: Vitamin B6

Contributes to normal synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and some neurotransmitters: Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Contributes to normal fertility and reproduction: Zinc

Contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy: Folate (B9)

Contributes to the maintenance of normal serum testosterone concentrations: Zinc

Contributes to normal spermatogenesis: Selenium

Digestive health

Contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes: Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Biotin (B7)

Please note, there are no EFSA authorised claims for probiotics.
The amount of iron in the ThinkPharm Formula is too small for a legally allowed claim. We have mainly added it with the intention of avoiding potential depletions caused by other vitamins and minerals in the formula. For more information as to why we have mainly excluded iron from our supplement, please see our article: The Iron Controversy – What We Do Different About Iron