The effect of boron supplementation on bone mineral density and hormonal status in college female athletes
Abstract
Twenty-eight college female volunteers, 18 to 24 years of
age, were studied to determine their bone mineral density and
hormonal status following 10 months of supplementation with
boron. Seventeen of the subjects were college athletes (A)
who participated in either varsity basketball, tennis, track,
triathlons, or volleyball. Eleven eumenorrheic subjects were
placed in the sedentary group (S). All athletes were
eumenorrheic, except for two, who were amenorrheic. The
subjects were randomly assigned to either a placebo
(cornstarch) or 3 mg of Tri-Boron (TWin Labs, Ronkonkoma, NY)
per day. The study was single blind; the placebo and boron
supplements were identical in appearance. The subjects'
maximal oxygen consumption (V02max ) was assessed at month 0
only, in order to compare the athletes' aerobic capacity to
that of the sedentary group. Subjects were measured at time
o and 10 months for the following: average daily food intake,
bone mineral density, plasma 1,2 5-dihydroxyvi tamin D3 , and
plasma alkaline phosphatase. The following parameters were
determined at 0, 6, and 10 months: serum 17-Beta estradiol
progesterone, and testosterone, and percent body fat, and body
weight. The athletes had a significantly greater V02MX (p <
0.05) than the sedentary group. There were no differences
between the A and the S groups' food intake as measured in
kcals, protein, fat, carbohydrate and fiber content. Although
average body weight did not differ between activity groups,
the athletes had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) percent body
fat than the sedentary group. The athletes showed a slight
increase in bone mineral density, whereas the sedentary group
showed a slight decrease. The difference between these
changes was significant (p < 0.05) between the acti vi ty
groups. Furthermore, the athletes showed a slight increase in
plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 , while the sedentary group
showed a decrease in this measure; the difference between
these changes also proved to be significant (p < 0.05) between
activity groups. There were no significant differences in
plasma alkaline phosphatase values. Serum 17-B estradiol and
testosterone values exhibited a significant (p < 0.05)
increase for all groups combined at 6 months. There were no
significant changes observed in serum progesterone. Although
significant changes were observed in some of the variables
measured, none of the changes were a result of the boron
supplementation.
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