THE EFFECT OF BORON SUPPLEMENTATION ON LEAN BODY-MASS, PLASMA TESTOSTERONE LEVELS, AND STRENGTH IN MALE BODYBUILDERS

The effect of boron supplementation was investigated in 19 male bodybu ilders, ages 20-27 years. Ten were given a 2.5-mg boron supplement whi le 9 were given a placebo every day for 7 weeks. Plasma total and free testosterone, plasma boron, lean body mass, and strength measurements were determined on Days 1 and 49 of the study. Plasma boron values we re significantly (p<0.05) different as the experimental group increase d from (+/- SD) 20.1 +/- 7.7 ppb pretest to 32.6 +/- 27.6 ppb posttest , while the control group mean decreased from 15.1 +/- 14.4 ppb pretes t to 6.3 +/- 5.5 ppb posttest. Analysis of variance indicated no signi ficant effect of boron supplementation on any of the dependent variabl es. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in total testostero ne, lean body mass, 1-RM squat, and 1-RM bench press. The findings sug gest that 7 weeks of bodybuilding can increase total testosterone, lea n body mass, and strength in lesser trained bodybuilders, and that bor on supplementation had no effect on these measures.