Mag² + Boron

Mag² + Boron is Marek's evening mineral stack — magnesium and boron, both chelated to glycine in a doubly-bisglycinate formulation. It supports healthy neuromuscular function, relaxation, sleep quality, recovery, bone mineral metabolism, and hormone-related pathways.‡

The "²" in the name refers to the dual-bisglycinate chelation — both minerals bound to glycine, an amino acid that is itself involved in sleep physiology and fits the evening positioning of the product.

Per serving (4 capsules):

• 260 mg elemental magnesium (from 2,222 mg magnesium bisglycinate)
• 20 mg elemental boron (from 200 mg boron bisglycinate)
• ~1,775 mg glycine (delivered as part of the chelates)

Take four capsules daily at bedtime, ideally 30–60 minutes before sleep.

Magnesium bisglycinate is magnesium chemically bound to two molecules of glycine, a small amino acid. This chelate form is absorbed through amino acid transport pathways in the gut rather than through the routes used for ionic minerals, which gives it two practical advantages over more common magnesium forms.‡

1. Absorption is consistently high.‡ Some magnesium forms — magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate — are very poorly absorbed, often below 5% of the dose. Magnesium bisglycinate is well-absorbed (typically 30–40% or higher in human studies), meaning a meaningful fraction of what's on the label actually reaches systemic circulation.
2. GI tolerability is excellent.‡ Magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, and magnesium sulfate are all variably associated with loose stools, especially at higher doses — that's part of why magnesium citrate is sometimes used clinically as a laxative. Magnesium bisglycinate's absorption pattern (through amino acid pathways rather than direct ionic absorption) produces dramatically fewer GI complaints, allowing for consistent daily dosing.‡

The glycine isn't just a delivery vehicle — it's a calming amino acid in its own right that is involved in healthy sleep physiology.‡

Mag² + Boron's 4-capsule serving delivers roughly 1,775 mg of glycine from the chelates, which aligns naturally with the formula's evening positioning and stacks cleanly with Glycine for those who want a fuller sleep-supportive glycine dose.‡

Boron is a trace mineral with a less prominent public profile than calcium or magnesium, but a substantial research base behind it — particularly in mineral metabolism, vitamin D activation, bone-related pathways, and hormone metabolism.‡

Boron's specific roles include:

• Vitamin D-related physiology: boron appears to support vitamin D activation and overall vitamin D status, complementing the magnesium–vitamin D activation pathway also covered by Mag² + Boron.‡
• Bone mineral metabolism: boron interacts with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus handling in ways relevant to bone health.‡
• Steroid hormone metabolism: in healthy adults, boron supplementation has been studied for effects on free sex hormone metabolism.‡
• Inflammation-related pathways: boron supplementation has been studied for its effects on certain inflammatory biomarkers.‡

Reference: Boron and mineral metabolism — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4712861/

Mag² + Boron may help to support healthy free testosterone pathways.‡

The framing matters here. Mag² + Boron is a dietary supplement, not a hormone product. It contains no testosterone, no hormone precursors, no aromatase inhibitors, and no hormone-modulating drugs.

What the boron literature does show: in a human study, daily boron supplementation in healthy males was associated with changes in markers related to free testosterone, vitamin D, and inflammatory biomarkers. The mechanism appears to relate to boron's role in steroid hormone metabolism — particularly its impact on sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the protein that binds testosterone and reduces its biologically available fraction.‡

Mag² + Boron provides nutritional support for the pathways involved in healthy hormone metabolism. Whether that translates to perceptible changes in any individual depends on baseline boron status, baseline hormone levels, age, body composition, sleep quality, and overall health.

If you're concerned about testosterone — particularly if you suspect low testosterone, are experiencing related symptoms, or are managing a diagnosed condition — that's a clinical conversation worth having. Get bloodwork, talk to a provider, and don't treat a supplement as a substitute for hormone-related medical care. Marek Health offers comprehensive hormone panels and clinical consultation for adults who need that level of care.

Reference: Boron and healthy free testosterone pathways — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21129941/

Through several complementary mechanisms — and it's worth being honest that the evidence varies in strength across them.‡

Magnesium plays a central role in neuromuscular function. It's involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including those governing nerve transmission, muscle relaxation, and the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the nervous system. Adequate magnesium status supports the body's normal capacity for relaxation and recovery, particularly after demanding days. The systematic review evidence on magnesium and sleep specifically is mixed — observational studies suggest associations between magnesium status and sleep quality, while randomized trial evidence is less consistent. Magnesium isn't a sedative; what it appears to do is support the physiological substrate that healthy sleep depends on.‡

Glycine — delivered at ~1,775 mg per serving from the bisglycinate chelates — has its own evidence base in sleep physiology, primarily through its role in supporting the pre-sleep drop in core body temperature that signals sleep onset. (This is the same mechanism Glycine is built around, at a higher dose.) The glycine delivered through Mag² + Boron isn't quite at the 3–5 g doses used in the dedicated glycine sleep research, but it contributes to the formula's evening positioning and stacks naturally with Marek Glycine for users who want both.‡

Boron supports vitamin D-related physiology and mineral metabolism — pathways relevant to recovery and bone-related processes that operate during sleep.‡

Practical translation: Mag² + Boron is evening foundational mineral support that helps the body wind down. The subjective experience for many users is "muscles feel more settled" and "the transition into sleep feels smoother" rather than acute sedation.‡

References:

• Magnesium and sleep — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35184264/
• Magnesium and vitamin D activation — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29480918/

Because magnesium bisglycinate is a physically bulky chelate, and fitting a clinically meaningful dose into 1–2 capsules requires either accepting much smaller doses or substituting cheaper, less well-absorbed forms.

To deliver 260 mg of elemental magnesium from bisglycinate, the formula needs about 2,222 mg of magnesium bisglycinate by weight. The boron bisglycinate adds another 200 mg. That total ingredient mass — roughly 2.4 grams — doesn't fit comfortably in one or two capsules. It would require a jumbo capsule most people find difficult to swallow.

Most users take all four together at bedtime with water. If 4 capsules at once feels like too much, splitting (2 with dinner, 2 at bedtime) works fine. The practical workaround for the evening routine is to take Mag² + Boron with water or tea with Glycine — combining the steps simplifies the protocol.

Take four capsules daily at bedtime, ideally 30–60 minutes before sleep, with water or chamomile tea.‡

The bedtime timing serves several purposes. Magnesium's relaxation-supporting effects align with the body's natural wind-down. And separating Mag² + Boron from the morning supplement stack reduces the chance of mineral-mineral interactions during absorption — magnesium can compete with other minerals for shared transport pathways.

Practical notes:

• Take with water or herbal tea.
• A light snack alongside is fine if you have a sensitive stomach — magnesium bisglycinate is well-tolerated, but individual variation matters.
• If 4 capsules at once feels like too much, split: 2 with dinner, 2 at bedtime. Both work.
• Daily use is the recommended protocol. Magnesium status builds and stabilizes over weeks of consistent intake.

Much less likely than most magnesium supplements — but individual response still varies.‡

The loose-stool effect commonly associated with magnesium supplementation is largely a consequence of unabsorbed magnesium drawing water into the gut osmotically. Magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, and magnesium sulfate all have substantial unabsorbed fractions at standard doses, which is why they sometimes produce noticeable laxative effects (and why magnesium citrate is occasionally used clinically for that purpose).‡

Magnesium bisglycinate is absorbed through amino acid transport pathways and shows substantially less of this osmotic effect. Most users tolerate Mag² + Boron without GI symptoms, including at the full 4-capsule dose.‡

If you do notice GI sensitivity:

• Take with food rather than on an empty stomach.
• Split the dose (2 with dinner, 2 at bedtime).
• Start with 2 capsules daily for a few days before working up to 4.
• If symptoms persist, talk to your healthcare provider — there may be other factors involved.

Consult your healthcare provider before starting Mag² + Boron if you:

• Have kidney disease or impaired renal function. The kidneys clear excess magnesium, so reduced kidney function can cause magnesium accumulation. This is the single most important precaution for any magnesium supplement.
• Take medications affected by magnesium absorption or excretion, including bisphosphonates (osteoporosis medications), tetracycline or fluoroquinolone antibiotics, diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, or muscle relaxants. Separate magnesium-containing supplements from these medications by at least two hours.
• Take prescription hormone medications or are under treatment for a hormone-related condition (thyroid disease, testosterone replacement therapy, estrogen-related conditions). The boron component may have hormone-pathway effects relevant to monitoring.
• Have hyperparathyroidism or another disorder affecting mineral metabolism.
• Are pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive.
• Have a history of intestinal disorders (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease) that affect mineral absorption.

Mag² + Boron is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you're managing a condition or under medical supervision, work with your provider to determine whether Mag² + Boron fits your protocol.