Does Boron Increase Testosterone or Help Erectile Dysfunction?

Boron is a trace element found in foods and supplements. Small studies suggest it may influence steroid-hormone metabolism, but current evidence does not show that boron reliably raises testosterone or treats erectile dysfunction.

The most important limitation is scale. Positive claims are often based on eight men studied for one week, while a longer placebo-controlled trial in male bodybuilders found no effect on testosterone, lean mass, or strength.

What is boron?

Boron occurs naturally in plant foods and beverages. Fruit, legumes, potatoes, coffee, milk, and other commonly eaten foods contribute to intake. Dietary supplements may contain boron citrate, glycinate, aspartate, or other forms.

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements does not classify boron as an essential nutrient for humans because research has not identified a clear biological function. There is no Recommended Dietary Allowance or Daily Value.¹

Does boron increase testosterone?

The human evidence is limited and inconsistent.

The frequently cited one-week study

A small experiment gave 10 mg of boron per day to eight healthy men. After one week, average free testosterone increased and estradiol decreased in the morning samples.²

This study can generate a hypothesis, but it cannot establish that boron is an effective testosterone treatment. It had only eight participants, lasted seven days, and did not test symptoms, fertility, strength, body composition, or erectile function. Hormone levels also fluctuate naturally.

The seven-week bodybuilding trial

In a placebo-controlled trial, 19 male bodybuilders received either 2.5 mg of boron per day or placebo for seven weeks. Boron did not significantly affect total testosterone, free testosterone, lean body mass, or strength.³

Neither study is large enough to settle the question. Taken together, they do not support a confident claim that boron reliably boosts testosterone.

Does boron help erectile dysfunction?

No clinical trial has established boron as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. The one-week testosterone study did not measure erections, sexual satisfaction, or response to ED treatment.

Erectile dysfunction can involve blood vessel disease, diabetes, nerve damage, medication effects, smoking, low testosterone, anxiety, depression, or several factors at once. Proven treatments depend on the cause.⁴ Read our evidence-based guide to low testosterone and erectile dysfunction.

A supplement should not delay evaluation because persistent ED can be an early sign of cardiovascular or metabolic disease.

What foods contain boron?

Boron is mainly found in plant foods. Examples include:

• Prunes, raisins, apples, and pears
• Avocado
• Beans and other legumes
• Potatoes and some vegetables
• Nuts
• Coffee, milk, wine, and cider

Actual content varies with the food and growing conditions. A varied diet generally provides boron without requiring a high-dose supplement.

How much boron is safe?

Because boron is not classified as essential, the United States has no recommended daily intake. The NIH notes that common dietary supplements contain about 0.15 to 6 mg of elemental boron. The adult tolerable upper intake level is 20 mg per day from all sources.¹

An upper limit is not a recommended target. It is the highest average daily intake considered unlikely to cause harm for most people. It does not mean that taking 20 mg is beneficial.

Excessive boron exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, headache, and more serious toxicity at very high doses. Boric acid and borax household products are not dietary supplements and must never be swallowed.

Should you take boron for low testosterone?

A boron supplement should not replace a medical evaluation. Low testosterone is diagnosed through compatible symptoms and repeat, properly timed blood tests. Pituitary disorders, testicular injury, medications, sleep apnea, obesity, chronic disease, and previous anabolic steroid use may all be relevant.

Our article on low testosterone in younger men explains why the cause and fertility goals matter before treatment. For testing details, see how testosterone testing is interpreted.

If you still want to use a boron supplement, review the dose and your full supplement list with a clinician or pharmacist. This is especially important if you have kidney disease, are pregnant, or are taking multiple products that may contain boron.

How to evaluate supplement claims

When a product claims to raise testosterone, ask:

• Was the evidence from humans?
• Was the study randomized and placebo-controlled?
• How many people participated?
• How long did it last?
• Did it measure symptoms and health outcomes, or only one blood sample?
• Was the studied dose the same as the product dose?
• Has another research group reproduced the result?

Boron claims often fail several of these checks. A short-term laboratory change is not the same as a meaningful improvement in health.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly does boron raise testosterone?

There is no reliable timeline because it has not been shown to consistently raise testosterone. The often-cited seven-day study was too small and short to establish an expected response.

Is 10 mg of boron per day safe?

Ten milligrams is below the adult upper intake level of 20 mg, but that does not establish benefit or make it appropriate for everyone. Total intake, health conditions, age, pregnancy status, and other supplements matter.

Can boron replace ED medication?

No evidence supports using boron as a replacement for proven erectile dysfunction treatment. Discuss persistent ED with a qualified clinician.

Does boron increase free testosterone more than total testosterone?

One very small study reported a free-testosterone change, while another controlled trial found no effect on either total or free testosterone. The evidence is not strong enough to make a dependable distinction.

Bottom line

Boron is a normal dietary trace element, but it is not a proven testosterone booster or erectile dysfunction treatment. Human studies are small, short, and inconsistent. Food sources are reasonable, while supplementation should be judged by dose, safety, and realistic expectations rather than marketing claims.

Sources

1. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Boron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
2. Naghii MR, et al. Comparative Effects of Daily and Weekly Boron Supplementation on Plasma Steroid Hormones and Proinflammatory Cytokines. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2011.
3. Ferrando AA, Green NR. The Effect of Boron Supplementation on Lean Body Mass, Plasma Testosterone Levels, and Strength in Male Bodybuilders. International Journal of Sport Nutrition. 1993.
4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction.

Evidence reviewed August 2026. This article is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical diagnosis or treatment.