{
  "dataset": "boron-cost-by-brand",
  "title": "Boron Supplements Compared — cost per elemental mg of boron",
  "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/boron/best-overall/",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), Boron Cost Comparison",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-18",
  "methodology": "All five products here disclose ELEMENTAL boron mg directly on the label (unlike beetroot's nitrate gap), so cost per elemental mg per day is a real, computable comparison. costPerElementalMg = price / (servings x elemental boron mg per serving). \"verdict\": studied (serving is at the ~3 mg most-studied human dose), underdosed (discloses elemental boron but a serving is below 3 mg), high-dose (10 mg/serving = half the 20 mg US adult tolerable upper intake level — do not stack multiple servings). EVIDENCE CONTEXT (modest, real-but-limited, YMYL category — not a treatment claim): a single small trial found a short-term free-testosterone rise in untrained men (Naghii 2011, PMID 21129941, n=8, 1 week) that was NOT replicated in a 7-week RCT in trained bodybuilders (Ferrando & Green 1993, PMID 8508192, n=19, no effect on testosterone/lean mass/strength). Metabolic-ward data show 3 mg/day boron reduces urinary calcium/magnesium loss (Nielsen 1987, PMID 3678698; Hunt 1997, PMID 9062533) — a mineral-retention signal, NOT a bone-density or fracture outcome. Calcium fructoborate (CFB, not disclosed as elemental boron in most products and not sold with a live price in this set) has short pilot-RCT joint/inflammation data (Scorei 2011, PMID 21607703; Pietrzkowski 2014, PMID 24940052; Rogoveanu 2015, PMID 25433580) from CFB-affiliated authors (disclosed conflict of interest). US IOM tolerable upper intake level is 20 mg/day for adults; supplemental boron is NOT the same substance as household boric acid/borax, whose toxicity data comes from high-dose animal studies, not supplement-dose human data. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA; these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.",
  "headline": {
    "productsCompared": 5,
    "studiedDose": 3,
    "underdosed": 1,
    "highDose": 1,
    "studiedDoseMg": 3,
    "upperLimitMg": 20,
    "cheapestPerElementalMg": 0.0058,
    "cheapestPerElementalMgBrand": "Vitamatic",
    "cheapestAtStudiedDoseBrand": "NOW Foods",
    "note": "Boron products in this set all disclose elemental mg, so cost per elemental mg is directly comparable. The cheapest cost per elemental mg is a 10 mg high-dose product — but 10 mg is half the adult upper limit, so it is not automatically the best buy; among products at the 3 mg most-studied dose, compare separately."
  },
  "columns": [
    "brand",
    "product",
    "slug",
    "form",
    "elementalMgPerServing",
    "servings",
    "price",
    "costPerServing",
    "costPerElementalMg",
    "verdict",
    "thirdParty"
  ],
  "units": {
    "elementalMgPerServing": "mg elemental boron",
    "price": "USD",
    "costPerServing": "USD/serving",
    "costPerElementalMg": "USD per elemental mg of boron"
  },
  "citations": [
    {
      "claim": "Boron 10 mg/day for 1 week raised free testosterone ~28% and lowered estradiol ~39% in n=8 healthy men (unreplicated).",
      "source": "Naghii MR, et al. 2011, J Trace Elem Med Biol",
      "pmid": "21129941"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Boron 2.5 mg/day for 7 weeks had NO effect on testosterone, lean mass, or strength in trained bodybuilders (n=19 RCT).",
      "source": "Ferrando AA, Green NR. 1993, Int J Sport Nutr",
      "pmid": "8508192"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Boron 3 mg/day reduced urinary calcium and magnesium loss in postmenopausal women after depletion (metabolic-ward study, not a bone-density outcome).",
      "source": "Nielsen FH, et al. 1987, FASEB J",
      "pmid": "3678698"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Boron 3 mg/day altered calcium/magnesium absorption and retention, modulated by magnesium status.",
      "source": "Hunt CD, et al. 1997, Am J Clin Nutr",
      "pmid": "9062533"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Calcium fructoborate (CFB) 2-week pilot RCT improved CRP, fibrinogen, and ESR in knee osteoarthritis (n=60; CFB-affiliated authors).",
      "source": "Scorei R, et al. 2011, Biol Trace Elem Res",
      "pmid": "21607703"
    }
  ],
  "products": [
    {
      "brand": "Vitamatic",
      "product": "Chelated Boron 10 mg",
      "slug": "vitamatic-chelated-boron-10mg",
      "form": "glycinate (chelated)",
      "elementalMgPerServing": 10,
      "servings": 240,
      "price": 13.99,
      "costPerServing": 0.06,
      "costPerElementalMg": 0.0058,
      "verdict": "high-dose",
      "thirdParty": "None stated"
    },
    {
      "brand": "NOW Foods",
      "product": "Boron 3 mg (Bororganic Glycine)",
      "slug": "now-foods-boron-3mg",
      "form": "glycinate (bororganic glycine)",
      "elementalMgPerServing": 3,
      "servings": 100,
      "price": 5.2,
      "costPerServing": 0.05,
      "costPerElementalMg": 0.0173,
      "verdict": "studied",
      "thirdParty": "cGMP (NPA-certified facility)"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Life Extension",
      "product": "Boron 3 mg + Vitamin B2",
      "slug": "life-extension-boron-3mg",
      "form": "citrate/aspartate/glycinate blend",
      "elementalMgPerServing": 3,
      "servings": 100,
      "price": 5.25,
      "costPerServing": 0.05,
      "costPerElementalMg": 0.0175,
      "verdict": "studied",
      "thirdParty": "GMP; no third-party COA"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Swanson",
      "product": "Triple Boron Complex 3 mg",
      "slug": "swanson-triple-boron-3mg",
      "form": "citrate/aspartate/glycinate blend",
      "elementalMgPerServing": 3,
      "servings": 250,
      "price": 14.49,
      "costPerServing": 0.06,
      "costPerElementalMg": 0.0193,
      "verdict": "studied",
      "thirdParty": "cGMP"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Pure Encapsulations",
      "product": "Boron 2 mg",
      "slug": "pure-encapsulations-boron-2mg",
      "form": "glycinate",
      "elementalMgPerServing": 2,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 14,
      "costPerServing": 0.23,
      "costPerElementalMg": 0.1167,
      "verdict": "underdosed",
      "thirdParty": "NSF-audited GMP, hypoallergenic"
    }
  ]
}