Boron
Boron is a trace mineral found naturally in foods (especially fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes) and in drinking water. It’s commonly sold as a supplement in small milligram doses and is usually marketed for “testosterone support,” bone health, or inflammation-related benefits. Compared with many “hormone” supplements, boron often looks innocuous on paper—but it can still have measurable endocrine effects in some contexts, especially at higher supplemental doses.
Mechanistically, boron has been reported in small human studies to shift sex-hormone markers over short timeframes (for example: reduced SHBG and higher free testosterone, alongside lower estradiol after about a week in a small sample). (PubMe) It’s also worth noting that “boron effects” are not consistent across all studies/populations, so it’s better framed as a potential endocrine nudge rather than a predictable lever. From a safety standpoint, mainstream nutrition references don’t set an RDA for boron, and list upper intake guidance (e.g., adult UL commonly cited around 20 mg/day; WHO safe range estimates are also discussed).
Anecdotes (Community Reports):
https://www.reddit.com/r/FinasterideSyndrome/comments/1lk98za/100mg_dhea_and_6mg_boron_daily/
https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/1g6e2f4/boron_set_back_was_healed_now_numb/
https://www.reddit.com/r/FinasterideSyndrome/comments/1889zme/anyones_experience_with_boron/
How to Interpret This Page
This page summarizes anecdotal reports and community observations, not medical evidence. “Risk” here refers to how frequently severe or prolonged symptom worsening is reported, not to proven causation or population-wide probability. Individual responses vary widely, and absence of issues in some users does not rule out significant reactions in others.
Risk Signal Based on User Reports
Community Reports: Minor Benefits, Occasional Flares, and Variable Sensitivity
In PFS/PSSD/PAS discussions, boron usually comes up as a “milder” hormone-adjacent supplement—often because some people report small improvements in libido, mood, or “androgenic feel,” while many report no meaningful change. A smaller subset describe flares (often framed as anxiety, sleep disruption, feeling wired/unstable, or sexual symptom volatility). Because boron can plausibly shift free testosterone/estradiol dynamics in some individuals (at least in short-term small studies), (PubMed) it’s reasonable to treat it as variable-response rather than “biologically neutral” in an androgen-sensitive population.
Practical caution signal: boron is generally discussed as lower risk for permanent worsening compared with stronger endocrine/serotonergic agents, but it may still be a “trigger” for some people—especially at higher doses or when stacked with other hormone-active supplements. If someone is highly crash-prone or currently unstable, a conservative approach is to avoid experimenting; if it’s tried at all, many people choose to keep dose low and avoid long runs without clinician guidance.
Evidence basis: small human hormone-marker studies + general boron safety guidance; anecdotal reports (online forums/self-reports). No controlled studies establishing benefit (or risk) for PFS/PSSD/PAS-specific outcomes.