Research Snapshot
Boron Glycinate
A synthesis of the peer-reviewed evidence for Boron Glycinate across testosterone, cognition, inflammation and bone health, graded by scientific consensus and reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Board.
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TestosteroneDoes Boron support healthy testosterone levels?
Evidence from 16 studies
What the research shows
Boron supplementation can increase testosterone levels in some human and animal studies, particularly in short-term trials and in individuals with low dietary boron. However, evidence in healthy, physically active men is inconsistent, and long-term safety and efficacy remain unclear. Boron’s effects may depend on baseline diet, sex, and health status.
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Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements | M. Naghii, M. Mofid, A. Asgari, M. Hedayati, M. Daneshpour | 95, 2 influential | 2011
Highly Cited
Daily boron supplementation can increase free testosterone levels and decrease inflammation, while decreasing sex hormone binding globulin, high sensitive CRP, and TNF- levels.
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology | F. Nielsen, C. Hunt, L. Mullen, J. Hunt | 157, 11 influential | 1988
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Highly Cited
Boron supplementation in postmenopausal women can prevent calcium loss and bone demineralization by reducing urinary calcium and magnesium excretion and increasing serum levels of 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone.
Nutrition Research | M. Naghii, S. Samman | 44, 1 influential | 1997
Randomized Control Trial (RCT) , Animal Trial
Dietary boron can increase plasma testosterone and vitamin D levels in rats, but may reduce HDL3-cholesterol, potentially impacting chronic diseases.
Nutrition and Health | M. R. Naghii | 1998 | 33, 3 influential
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial
Boron supplementation may be a safe and effective ergogenic aid for athletes, increasing endogenous steroid hormones without affecting plasma lipids.
CognitionDoes Boron support cognitive function?
Evidence from 12 studies
What the research shows
Some studies suggest boron supports cognitive function by improving brain activity, memory, and attention, while other studies indicate conflicting evidence.
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Environmental Health Perspectives | J. G. Penland | 105, 3 influential | 1994
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Highly Cited
Low dietary boron intake can lead to poorer performance in cognitive tasks, suggesting boron is an essential nutrient for humans.
Biological Trace Element Research | J. G. Penland | 79, 5 influential | 2007
Rigorous Journal , Highly Cited , Literature Review
Boron nutriture is essential for human brain and psychological function, with deficiency leading to poorer performance in motor speed, attention, and short-term memory tasks.
Integrative medicine | L. Pizzorno | 147, 8 influential | 2015
Highly Cited
Boron supplementation of 3 mg/d is recommended for bone growth, wound healing, and overall health, with potential benefits for cancer prevention and treatment.
Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements | F. Nielsen | 195, 9 Influential | 2014
Highly Cited
Increasing boron intake through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses can enhance health benefits and reduce the risk of some cancers.
InflammationDoes Boron reduce inflammation?
Evidence from 20 studies
What the research shows
Boron shows strong anti-inflammatory effects in animal and cellular studies, with some promising but limited evidence in humans. While boron-based compounds and materials are effective in reducing inflammation in preclinical models, more high-quality clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits in humans and determine optimal dosing and safety.
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Food and chemical toxicology | Ulaș Acaroz et al. | 106 | 2018
Randomized Control Trial (RCT) , Animal Trial , Highly Cited
Boron can reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic changes caused by acrylamide exposure in rats.
Advanced Science | Changyi Xu et al. | 1 | 2025
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , Rigorous Journal
Boron-based 2D nanoplatforms (B-PM) effectively reduce severe respiratory inflammation by targeting multiple inflammatory mediators, including cell-free DNA, NETs, RONS, and bacteria.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology | Nasrin Sedighi-Pirsaraei et al. | 6 | 2024
Systematic Review
Boron compounds show potential in chronic wound healing through anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and pro-proliferative effects, promoting tissue regeneration and wound closure.
Biological trace element research | Koksal Gundogdu et al. | 7 | 2023
Animal Trial , Controlled experimental study
Boric acid shows potential efficacy in reducing inflammation in knee osteoarthritis in rats, warranting further clinical studies for validation.
Bone HealthDoes boron support bone health?
Evidence from 19 studies
What the research shows
Research consistently shows that boron supports bone health by improving bone mineral density, regulating mineral metabolism, and enhancing bone cell activity.
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Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements | M. Rondanelli, M. Faliva, G. Peroni, V. Infantino, C. Gasparri, G. Iannello, S. Perna, A. Riva, G. Petrangolini, A. Tartara | 30, 1 Influential | 2020
Systematic Review
Boron supplementation at 3 mg/day is effective in supporting bone health through control of calcium, vitamin D, and sex steroid hormone metabolism, promoting adequate bone mineral density.
Environmental Health Perspectives | R. Newnham | 112, 9 Influential | 1994
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Highly Cited
Boron supplementation may be a safe and effective treatment for some forms of arthritis, with further research warranted for its potential in arthritis prevention and treatment.
Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements | F. Nielsen | 195, 9 Influential | 2014
Highly Cited
Increasing boron intake through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses can enhance health benefits and reduce the risk of some cancers.
Biological Trace Element Research | Haseeb Khaliq, Zhong Juming, Peng Ke-mei | 142, 5 Influential | 2018
Highly Cited
Boron supplementation can improve growth, central nervous system function, and immune system, but high or low boron levels may cause concerns.
Reviewed by Experts
Every research snapshot is checked by our independent Scientific Advisory Board: physicians, botanists and pharmacology researchers who verify the evidence grading and its interpretation.
Kerry Hughes
M.Sc., RH(AHG), FDN-P
Ethnobotanist & herbalist; Berkeley Herbal Center; principal at EthnoPharm.
View full profile →Lance Dreher
PhD, Nutritional Counseling
Performance nutrition & conditioning; four decades of applied training science.
View full profile →Dr. Lindsey Faucette
DO, FAAFP
Board-certified in Family & Integrative Medicine; Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
View full profile →Francisco Chacon
PhD, Plant Biology
Botanical natural products & phytochemistry researcher, Penn State University.
View full profile →Meet the full Scientific Advisory Board →
How We Grade Consensus
For each benefit we retrieve the relevant peer-reviewed literature and classify every study by whether its findings support (Yes), partially or conditionally support (Possibly), or do not support (No) the claim. The donut shows the share of studies in each category; N is the number of studies analyzed for that benefit.
Grades reflect the weight and direction of the current evidence, not a guarantee of outcome, and the interpretation is verified by the Scientific Advisory Board.