Boron Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamins D & K)

Find the Best Boron Supplement. Tests and Reviews of Popular Boron Supplements & CL's Top Picks.

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initially Posted: 12/06/2019

Boron supplements reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

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Table of Contents

Summary

· What is boron? Boron is a mineral that we consume in very small amounts primarily from plant-based foods in our diets, which is why vegans and vegetarians consume more of it than other people (see What It Is).

· What does boron do? Boron has not been established as being essential to our health. Some preliminary studies have suggested that supplementing with boron can improve bone health and osteoarthritis, but these benefits are not well established. Boron has also been marketed as a testosterone-booster, but a placebo-controlled study found no benefit (see What It Does).

· How much boron should I take? Again, there is no convincing evidence that you have to supplement with boron. However, if you are going to take boron, amounts used in clinical trials are typically 1,000 mcg to 6,000 mcg (1 mg to 6 mg) daily.

· What did CL's tests of boron find? Among the products ConsumerLab.com selected for testing, one contained more than double its claimed amount of boron, while the others met their claims for boron. Boron per serving ranged from 2,000 mcg to 5,000 mcg among boron-only products and from just 198.5 mcg to 1,000 mcg in boron-containing formulas (see What CL Found).

· Which boron product is best? Among the products that passed testing and were "Approved" for their quality, CL selected two Top Picks for boron that are low in price (just 2 cents per serving, providing a significant amount of boron). CL also selected Top Picks for combination formulas that include boron along with ingredients typically marketed for bone health such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and/or vitamin K.

· How to get more boron? Many plant-based foods, such as raisins and almonds, are good sources of boron. As a supplement, boron comes in many forms, but there is insufficient information to determine if one form is better than another with regard to absorption or side-effects. (For a description of the various forms see What to Consider When Buying.

· Boron safety and side effects: Even at moderate levels of intake, boron may increase estrogen levels. There is some concern that it can also lower blood levels of phosphorus. Very high intakes may cause side effects and potentially affect reproduction and development, for more details see (See Concerns and Cautions).

See our separate Reviews of Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K Supplements.

What It Is:

Boron is a trace mineral that occurs naturally in plants. It is not an essential mineral for humans, there is no disease known to be caused by a lack of boron, and there is no established daily requirement for boron — although there is an upper limit of 20,000 mcg (20 mg) daily for adults. Americans typically get an average of about 1,000 mcg to 3,000 mcg (1 mg to 3 mg) of boron daily from foods such as leafy vegetables, raisins, prunes, non-citrus fruits like apples, and some grains. Intakes are slightly higher for vegetarians, who consume an average of 3,000 mcg to 4,000 mcg of boron per day (Rainey, J Am Diet Assoc 1999; Institute of Medicine 2001). Drinking water (tap and bottled) can also contribute boron, but it depends on the water sources, with daily amounts from water ranging from just 5 mcg to as much as 2,000 mcg (Institute of Medicine 2001).

What It Does:

Although not a required mineral, preliminary evidence has suggested that boron may have some beneficial effects — although more research is needed to prove these effects. Bone health
Some, but not all evidence suggests that boron may reduce calcium loss in the urine, although it may only help if magnesium intake is low (Neilson, FASEB J 1987).

There is preliminary evidence that boron may affect vitamin D levels, and maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels is important for bone health. A diet unusually low in boron (< 230 mcg per day) has been associated with a decrease in blood levels of vitamin D (Nielsen, J Trace Elem Exp Med 1990) and 6,000 mcg of boron (from calcium fructoborate) taken for two months was reported to increase blood levels of vitamin D by 20% in a study of 13 middle-aged men in Serbia who were deficient in vitamin D (Miljkovic, Med Hypoth 2004).

As for boron improving bone density, one small trial found no increase in spine or thigh bone mineral density in postmenopausal women who took 3,000 mcg of boron daily for one year compared to placebo (Biquet, Osteoporos Int 1996).

Osteoarthritis
Boron has also been suggested in the treatment of osteoarthritis (joint pain due to loss of cartilage), but this has only been investigated in small studies. An 8-week, company-funded study in which 5 of 10 people taking 6 mg of boron (from two tablets each containing 25 mg of sodium tetraborate decahydrate, also known as borax) improved while only 1 of 10 taking placebo improved (Travers, J Nutr Med 1990). In addition, two small studies in older adults with knee osteoarthritis and/or self-reported knee joint discomfort suggested that 108 mg to 110 mg of calcium fructoborate (FruiteX-B) taken twice daily (providing a total of approximately 6,000 mcg of boron per day) for two weeks modestly improved joint discomfort and mobility compared to placebo (Reyes-Izquierdo, Am J Biomed Sci 2011; Pietrzkowski, Clin Interv Aging 2014). These studies were funded by FutureCeuticals, Inc., the makers of FruiteX-B (see What to Consider When Buying for more about this ingredient).

Cognitive function
Boron may play a role in cell membrane function, and small, preliminary studies suggest that diets unusually low in magnesium and boron (< 230 mcg of boron per day) may negatively affect brain wave activity and cognitive function compared to diets higher in boron (3,000 mcg per day) and magnesium (Penland, Magnes Res 1995; Penland, Environ Health Perspect 1994).

Boosting testosterone in males
Boron has been marketed as an athletic performance enhancer but a placebo-controlled study found no effect on total testosterone, lean body mass, or strength from 2,500 mcg of boron given daily for seven weeks to male bodybuilders (Green, Environ Health Perspect 1994).

Topical-use
Boron has been used intravaginally in the form of boric acid suppositories to treat vaginal infections with Candida and Trichomonas vaginalis, but its effectiveness has not been well established in placebo-controlled studies (Thorley, Sex Transm Infec 2018).

Quality Concerns and Tests Performed:

Like other supplements, neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests boron supplements for quality prior to sale. However, quality issues for boron supplements can include the following:

· Labeled Amount — Does the product really contain the labeled amount of boron and other key ingredients such as magnesium, calcium, and vitamins D and K?

· Purity — As with other minerals, many sources of boron may naturally contain amounts of toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or arsenic.

· Ability to Break Apart for Absorption — Will pills break apart properly so they can release their ingredients in the body? For a tablet to be most useful, it must fully disintegrate prior to leaving the stomach, delivering its contents for absorption in the gut. Some tablets and caplets are not properly made and can pass through your body completely or partially intact, depriving you of its ingredients. Remnants of such products are sometimes found in the stool. This happens, for example, when a tablet is too tightly compressed (too "hard") or is too thickly coated.

· Side Effects at Suggested Dosage — ConsumerLab.com reviewed the levels of boron to determine if any product provided doses high enough so as to carry a risk of adverse side effects. Those that exceeded upper tolerable limits (ULs — see discussion below) are footnoted.

ConsumerLab.com, as part of its mission to independently evaluate products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition, purchased many leading boron-containing supplements sold in the U.S. and Canada and tested them to determine whether they possessed the claimed amount of these ingredients. Products sold as regular tablets were tested to determine whether they could disintegrate properly. Boron-only products, and all boron-containing formulas claiming to provide 250 mg or more of minerals or listing whole herbs as ingredients, were tested to determine whether they were free of unacceptable levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic (see Testing Methods and Passing Score).

What CL Found:

Boron-only supplements
All five boron-only supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com passed our tests of quality and were Approved, as did one product voluntarily tested in CL's Quality Certification Program.

Boron-containing "bone health" formulas
Only one of the two boron-containing formulas selected by ConsumerLab for testing passed our tests, although another three formulas voluntarily tested in our Quality Certification Program passed testing.

The boron-containing product that failed to meet CL's quality criteria and was, consequently, "Not Approved" is Natural Vitality Natural Calm Plus Calcium - Raspberry-Lemon Flavor. It contained more than double its claimed amount of boron (198.5 mcg found instead of 88.3 mcg) and less vitamin D than claimed (22.1 IU instead of 35 IU) per teaspoon of powder. These findings were confirmed in a second, independent laboratory. It did, however, contain its claimed amounts of calcium and magnesium. Although the discrepancies from the labeled amounts suggest a quality control problem, they do not pose a safety issue as the listed amounts were relatively small to start.

Be aware that even among combination products that were Approved in testing, several provide daily amounts of magnesium above the upper tolerable intake level (UL) for magnesium (350 mg per day for an adult) if taken within their listed suggested daily serving sizes. Each is identified with "UL" in the second column of the Results table. This can be acceptable when magnesium is taken to treat deficiency but is otherwise generally not advisable.

Boron per pill or unit
Be aware that the amount of boron in a single pill, teaspoon of powder, or liquid serving of a supplement varied across products. As shown below, this ranged from 2,000 mcg to 5,000 mcg among boron-only products (in line with doses used in clinical trials) and from just 198.5 mcg to 1,000 mcg in boron-containing formulas.

Boron per Pill or Unit

Cost
Among products Approved by CL for their quality and labeling, the cost to obtain 3,000 mcg of boron was as low as 2 cents from Piping Rock.com Boron Complex and Swanson Triple Boron Complex and as high as 26 cents among boron-only products, and as much as $2.61 from Natural Vitality Natural Calm Plus Calcium which, as noted earlier, failed to pass testing because it contained more than double its listed amount of boron (and less than its listed amount of vitamin D). If it had contained the amount of boron listed on the label, 3,000 mcg of boron from this product would cost even more -- a whopping $5.88!

Cost for 300 mcg of Boron

Top Picks:

Among boron-only supplements:
Piping Rock.com Boron Complex and Swanson Triple Boron Complex are our Top Picks in this category. Each contain 3,000 mcg of boron (from boron citrate, aspartate and glycinate) per pill for just 2 cents. However, be aware that citrate-containing supplements can increase absorption of aluminum from other medications and foods (and aluminum may be harmful in the body). This is not a problem for people with normal kidney function. However, it would be best not to take boron citrate if you have kidney disease, or when taking aluminum-containing medications, such as Maalox.

Among formulas that include boron:

· Boron, Calcium and Magnesium: Solgar Calcium Magnesium Plus Boron is our Top Pick in this category. It provides 1,000 mcg of boron (from boron citrate), 333 mg of calcium (from carbonate, gluconate, and citrate forms) and 133 mg of magnesium (from oxide, citrate, and gluconate forms) per tablet for 7 cents. Note that taking the suggested dose of 3 tablets daily would put you over the upper tolerable intake level for magnesium from supplements. Be aware that when a product shows a combination of forms for a mineral, the forms are listed in order of magnitude and it's possible that the majority of the mineral is from the first form which, in this case for calcium, is carbonate, and for magnesium is oxide — both are forms that may not be absorbed as well as the citrate form of each.

· Boron, Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin K: Both of the products that we tested in this category, GNC Calcimate and Jarrow Formulas Bone Up, provide significant amounts of calcium and vitamin K, but they differ in the amounts of boron they provide per daily serving: GNC Calcimate provides 1,000 mcg and Jarrow, 3,000 mcg. They also differ in their amounts of magnesium, with Jarrow providing several times as much as GNC as well as a daily dose of vitamin D (1,000 IU) that is closer to the adult requirement (600 IU to 800 IU) than GNC's 2,000 IU. Although it costs more (51 cents daily for 6 pills versus 25 cents daily for 4 pills), Jarrow Formulas Bone Up is our Top Pick for this category. With either product, consider cutting the suggest dose in half if you are just trying to boost your intake of these nutrients and not trying to fulfill the majority of the daily requirements from a supplement. By the way, Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up provides calcium as StimuCal microcrystalline hydroxyapatite — see What to Consider When Buying in the Calcium Supplements Review for more about this ingredient.

Test Results by Product:

Listed below are the test results for 11 supplements containing boron. Boron-only products are grouped by form — pills first, then liquids, followed by combination formulas. Within each group, products are listed alphabetically. ConsumerLab.com selected seven of these products. Four others (each indicated with a CL flask) were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program and are included for having passed testing.

Shown for each product are the labeled amount and form of magnesium, the serving size recommended on the label, and the unit (e.g., pill) size. Products listed as "Approved" met their label claim and ConsumerLab.com's quality criteria (see Passing Score). Those that did not are listed as "Not Approved" with an explanation of the problem found. Price comparisons are in the fourth column and the full list of ingredients is in last column.

Results of ConsumerLab.com Testing of BORON SUPPLEMENTS

(INCLUDING COMBINATIONS WITH CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, VITAMIN D AND/OR VITAMIN K)

(Click arrows or swipe left or right to see all columns)

Approval Status

Product Name
(Suggested Serving on Label)

Claimed Amount of and Form of Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D & Vitamin K Per Servingⓘ

Heavy Metalsⓘ

Suggested Daily Serving on Label

Pill Sizeⓘ

Cost for Suggested Serving

[Price per 3,000 mcg Boron]

Price

Notable Features

Full List of Ingredients Per Serving

Boron Only: Pills

APPROVED

Top Pick

for boron only

PipingRock.com Boron Complex

Mfd. by Piping Rock Health Products

1 tablet

3,000 mcg
(boron citrate, glycinate, aspartate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Also tested for disintegrationⓘ

For adults, take one (1) tablet daily, preferably with a meal.

Medium circular tablet

1 tablet

$0.02

[$0.02]

$4.89/200 tablets

No wheat, yeast, milk, lactose, soy, artificial color, artificial flavor, artificial sweetener, preservatives. Non-GMO.

1 tablet

Boron (as Boron Citrate, Boron Glycinate, and Boron Aspartate) 3 mg.

Other Ingredients: Dicalcium phosphate, cellulose (plant origin), vegetable magnesium stearate, croscarmellose, vegetable stearic acid, silica.

APPROVED

Pure Encapsulations® Boron (Glycinate)

Mfd. by Pure Encapsulations

1 capsule

2,000 mcg
(boron glycinate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule, 1-3 times daily, with meals.

Medium/large capsule

1 capsule

$0.17

[$0.26]

$10.40/60 capsules

Gluten-free, non-GMO & hypoallergenic

1 capsule

Boron (as boron glycinate) 2 mg.

Other Ingredients: Hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose), vegetarian capsule (cellulose, water).

APPROVED

Puritan's Pride® Boron 3 mg

Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc.

1 tablet

3,000 mcg
(boron citrate, aspartate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Also tested for disintegrationⓘ

For adults, take one (1) tablet daily, preferably with a meal.

Medium circular coated tablet

1 tablet

$0.12

[$0.12]

$11.96/100 coated tablets

No artificial color, flavor or sweetener, no preservatives, no sugar, no milk, no lactose, no soy, no gluten, no wheat, no yeast, no fish. Sodium free.

1 tablet

Boron (as Boron Citrate and Boron Aspartate) 3 mg.

Other Ingredients: Vegetable cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, vegetable stearic acid, contains <2% of: natural palm leaf glaze, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate.

APPROVED

Top Pick

for boron only

Swanson® Triple Boron Complex

Dist. by Swanson Health Products

1 capsule

3,000 mcg
(boron citrate, aspartate, glycinate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

As a dietary supplement, take one capsule per day with water.

Medium/large capsule

1 capsule

$0.02

[$0.02]

$4.79/250 capsules

None.

1 capsule

Boron (tri-boron complex from citrate, aspartate and glycinate) 3 mg.

Other Ingredients: Rice flour, gelatin, magnesium stearate.

APPROVED

The Vitamin Shoppe® Boron

Dist. by Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.

1 tablet

3,000 mcg
(boron amino acid chelate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Also tested for disintegrationⓘ

As a dietary supplement, take one (1) tablet daily, preferably with a meal.

Medium circular tablet

1 tablet

$0.07

[$0.07]

$6.99/100 tablets

Does not contain: yeast, wheat, gluten, sugar, salt, soy, dairy, citrus, fish, animal derivatives, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.

1 tablet

Boron (as amino acid chelate) 3 mg.

Other Ingredients: Dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, croscarmellose sodium, aqueous coating (purified water, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol).

Boron Only: Liquid

APPROVED

Good State Natural Ionic Boron

Mfd. by Nano Ionic Manufacturing

1/2 cap [2.5 ml]

5,000 mcg
(boric acid)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Adults: 2.5 ml (1/2 cap) daily in water or juice as maintenance once per day.

Liquid from bottle

1/2 cap

$0.21

[$0.12]

$19.99/8.1 fl oz [240 ml] bottle (approx. 96 servings)

Contains no sugars, soy, GMO, dairy, gluten, starch, artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or animal by-products and is hypoallergenic. Suitable for vegetarians.

1/2 cap

Boron (from Boric Acid) 5 mg.

Other Ingredients: Double reverse osmosis water, fulvic acid, non-GMO sorbic acid.

Boron, Calcium & Magnesium:

APPROVED

Top Pick

for boron, calcium & magnesium

Solgar® Calcium Magnesium Plus Boron

Mfd. by Solgar, Inc.

$ Price Check

3 tablets

3,000 mcg
(boron citrate)
✔

1,000 mg
(calcium carbonate, gluconate, citrate)
✔

400 mg^>UL
(magnesium oxide, citrate, gluconate)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Also tested for disintegrationⓘ

As a dietary supplement for adults, take three (3) tablets daily, preferably with a meal, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Medium/large tablet

3 tablets

$0.22

[$0.22]

$17.99/250 tablets

Kosher. Non-GMO. Suitable for vegans. Free of: Gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, yeast, sugar, artificial flavor, sweetener and preservatives.

3 tablets

Calcium (as calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate) 1,000 mg, Magnesium (as magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate) 400 mg, Sodium 10 mg, Boron (as boron citrate) 3 mg.

Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose, citric acid, more...

Boron, Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin D:

NOT APPROVED

Natural Vitality® Natural Calm Plus Calcium - Raspberry-Lemon Flavor

Dist. by Natural Vitality

1 teaspoon [2.5 g]

88.3 mcg
(boron citrate)
Found 198.5 mcg boron per serving (224.7% of listed amount)

70 mg
(calcium gluconate)
✔

106.7 mg
(magnesium citrate)
✔

35 IU (2.6 mcg)
(D3)
Found only 22.1 IU vitamin D per serving (63.1% of listed amount)

Heavy metals: Pass

Take 1 - 1 1/2 rounded teaspoons twice per day at any time, at least 5 hours apart.

Powder in container

1 teaspoon

$0.52

[$5.88 based on amount listed]
[$2.61 based on amount found]

$15.57/8 oz.[226 g] container (approx. 90 servings)

Vitamin C 88.3 mg, potassium (elemental from potassium citrate) 35 mg

Vegetarian. Gluten-free. Non GMO Project Verified seal. Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, soy, wheat, sugar, starch, preservatives or artificial color or flavor.

1 teaspoon

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 88.3 mg, Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 35 IU, Calcium (elemental from calcium gluconate) 70 mg, Magnesium (elemental from magnesium citrate) 106.7 mg, Potassium (elemental from potassium citrate) 35 mg, Boron (elemental from boron citrate) 88.3 mcg.

Ingredients: Calcium gluconate, more...

APPROVED

Vitalite Now! Calcium & Magnesium Plus

Dist. by Vitalite Now!

4 capsules

4,000 mcg
(boron amino acid chelate)
✔

1,000 mg
(calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, citrate, amino acid chelate, hydroxyapatite, gluconate, lactate, orotate, succinate and alpha ketoglutarate)
✔

500 mg^>UL
(magnesium oxide)
✔

400 IU (10 mcg)
(D3)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

4 capsules daily preferably with meals or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Large capsule

4 capsules

$0.47

[$0.35]

$27.90/240 capsules

Phosphorus 77 mg

Precaution: This product is manufactured and packaged in a facility which may also process milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and crustacean shellfish.

4 capsules

Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) 400 IU, Calcium (from carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, citrate, amino acid chelate, hydroxyapatite, gluconate, lactate, orotate, succinate and alpha ketoglutarate) 1,000 mg, Phosphorus (dicalcium phosphate) 77 mg, Magnesium (from oxide) 500 mg, Boron (from amino acid chelate) 4 mg.

Other Ingredients: Gelatin (bovine), vegetable magnesium stearate and rice flour.

Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D & Vitamin K:

APPROVED

GNC Calcimate Complete™

Dist. by General Nutrition Corporation

4 caplets

1,000 mcg
(boron hydrolyzed protein chelate)
✔

800 mg
(calcium citrate malate)
✔

100 mg
(magnesium oxide)
✔

2,000 IU (50 mcg)
(D3)
✔

50 mcg
(K2)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Also tested for disintegrationⓘ

As a dietary supplement, take two caplets at breakfast and two caplets at dinner for a total of four caplets daily.

Large caplet

4 caplets

$0.25

[$0.75]

$14.99/240 caplets

Zinc 7.5 mg, copper 1 mg, manganese 1 mg, MBP® 40 mg

No artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no wheat, gluten free, yeast free.

Precaution: Contains: Milk and soybeans.

4 caplets

Vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol D-3) 2,000 IU, Vitamin K-2 (as Menaquinone) 50 mcg, Calcium (as Calcium Citrate Malate) 800 mg, Magnesium (as Magnesium Oxide) 100 mg, Zinc (as Zinc Oxide) 7.5 mg, Copper (as Copper Glycinate) 1 mg, Manganese (as Manganese Gluconate) 1 mg, MBP® 40 mg, Boron (as Hydrolyzed Protein Chelate) 1 mg.

Other Ingredients: Cellulose, titanium dioxide (natural mineral whitener), vegetable acetoglycerides.

APPROVED

Top Pick

for boron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D & vitamin K

Jarrow Formulas® Bone-Up®

Dist. by Jarrow Formulas®

$ Price Check

6 capsules

3,000 mcg
(boron citrate)
✔

1,000 mg
(StimuCal™ microcrystalline hydroxyapatite)
✔

500 mg^>UL
(magnesium oxide)
✔

1,000 IU (25 mcg)
(D3)
✔

45 mcg
(MK-7 K2)
✔

Heavy metals: Pass

Take 2 capsules 3 times per day (for a total of 6) with meals to facilitate maximum absorption, or as directed by your qualified healthcare professional.

Large capsule

6 capsules

$0.51

[$0.51]

$20.37/240 capsules

Vitamin C 200 mg, zinc 10 mg, copper 1 mg, manganese 1 mg, potassium 99 mg

No wheat, gluten, egg, fish/shellfish, or peanuts/tree nuts.

Precaution: Contains: Soy (in trace amounts).

6 capsules

Vitamin C (as Calcium Ascorbate) 200 mg, Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 25 mcg (1,000 IU), Vitamin K2 (as Natural MK-7 [Menaquinone-7]) 45 mcg, Calcium (Elemental) (from StimuCal™ Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite) 1,000 mg, Magnesium (as Magnesium Oxide) 500 mg, Zinc (L-OptiZinc®) (as Zinc L-Methionine Sulfate) 10 mg, Copper (as Copper Gluconate) 1 mg, more...

Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested.

The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information.

ConsumerTips™:

What to Consider When Buying:
If you are interested in boosting your intake of boron, first consider increasing your intake of boron-containing foods. As noted earlier, Americans typically get an average of about 1,000 to 3,000 mcg of boron daily from their diets, while intakes are somewhat higher for vegetarians, who consume an average of 3,000 to 4,000 mcg of boron per day (Rainey, J Am Diet Assoc 1999; Institute of Medicine Panel on Micronutrients 2001). Below are some common foods that are good sources of boron.

Food	Boron per 100-gram serving
Raisins	4,510 mcg
Almonds	2,820 mcg
Apricots (dried)	2,110 mcg
Avocado	2,060 mcg
Peanut Butter	1,920 mcg
Red kidney beans	1,400 mcg
Pistachio Nuts	1,200 mcg
Grapes (red)	500 mcg
Bran (wheat)	320 mcg

Source: Naghii, J Am Coll Nutr 1996

Getting boron from supplements
Boron as an ingredient in supplements comes in a variety of chemical forms in which boron is linked to other compounds or molecules, such as in boron citrate, boron glycinate, and boron aspartate. Only a fraction of such molecules is boron itself. However, supplements are required to list the actual amount of boron in each serving, so you don't have to calculate the amount.

Another form now found in supplements is calcium fructoborate, which is the natural form of boron in fruits and vegetables and is a complex of calcium, fructose, and boron (Miljkovic, J Diet Suppl 2009). Some researchers have proposed that, due to its unique composition, calcium fructoborate may alter or promote healthy gut microflora and have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties not attributed to other forms of boron, although so far, this appears to be based on laboratory studies and is largely theoretical (Hunter, Biol Trace Elem Res 2019). Calcium fructoborate sold in supplements is manufactured using chemical synthesis and is sold as the patented ingredient FruiteX-B, which contains approximately 2.7% boron, 92.3% fructose and 5% calcium per weight (Reyes-Izquierdo, Am J Biomed Sci 2011). FruiteX-B can be found in products such as Life Extension's Bone Restore with Vitamin K2 and BioSchwartz Maximum Strength Glucosamine MSM+Chondroitin with Patented Fruitex-B. It is not an ingredient in any products in this review.

Other forms are boric acid and borax (or sodium tetraborate decahydrate), which is the crystal form in which boron is typically mined from the ground.

Unfortunately, there is insufficient published information comparing the absorption and bioavailability of the various forms of boron, so there is no reason to believe that one is superior to another. It is also unclear if it is better to take them with just water (or other beverage) or with a meal, but there is no need to take boron with a fat-containing meal. There is also insufficient information about how side-effects differ across the forms, although considering the relatively small doses taken, this may not be much of an issue.

What to Consider When Using:
As noted earlier, there is no established daily requirement for boron, but dosage taken in clinical trials and suggested on products typically ranges from 1,000 mcg to 6,000 mcg daily.

Upper limit
Although human data is limited, animal studies suggest potential reproductive and developmental effects at high doses, so Upper Tolerable Intake Levels (ULs) have been established. For adults, the UL is 20,000 mcg per day. For children ages 1 to 3, the UL is 3,000 mcg; for ages 4- 8, its 6,000 mcg; for ages 9 to 13, its 11,000 mcg; and for ages 14 to 18, it is 17,000 mcg. Infants up to one year of age should only consume boron through food and formula, not supplements (Institute of Medicine 2001). Note that even lower intakes of boron may have negative effects as discussed in the section below.

Concerns and Cautions:

At doses of 3,000 mcg to 10,000 mcg daily, boron may increase estrogen levels in both women and men (Neilson, FASEB J 1987; Naghii, Biol Trace Elem Res 1997). This may be of particular concern for women on hormonal therapy or those with a history of estrogen-sensitive cancer.

In women, 3,000 mcg per day of supplementation boron taken for 10 months has been shown to significantly lower blood levels of phosphorus compared to placebo, although levels remained within normal ranges (Meacham, Am J Clin Nutr 1995). Mild, chronically low blood levels of phosphorus can weaken bones, while very low blood levels of phosphorous (hypophosphatemia) can cause lack of appetite, weakness, coma or death. There do not appear to be reports of this occurring with typical doses of boron found in supplements.

Large doses (up to 25,000 mcg per day) of boron taken over extended periods of time have been reported to cause dermatitis, hair loss, anorexia, and indigestion (Institute of Medicine 2001).

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