sabato, Novembre 2, 2024

3D mapping of cancer: the new frontier in cancer biology and how AI does help to ID

3D tumor Mmping in cancer biology 3D tumor mapping in...

Is food to be deemed a medicine? Pros and cons and if and when to consider supplements

The idea that “food is medicine” has been around...

Bariatrics vs. GLP-1 incretins: who’s the best to keep kidney health on tune?

Background Obesity is a chronic condition that affects millions of...

Boron: the bio-needed mineral preferring the “feminine” side of biology

Boron is obtained by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. The daily intake has been estimated between 0.5 and 40 mg per day. Large amounts of boron are well tolerated, while consistent signs of deficiency include depressed growth and reductions in some blood parameters, especially steroid hormone concentrations. Through its effect on steroid hormones and interaction with mineral metabolism, boron may be involved in a number of clinical conditions, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Numerous studies suggest that boron interacts with other nutrients and plays a regulatory role in mineral metabolism, and subsequently bone metabolism. Although the mechanism of action has not been defined, it can be mediated by increasing the concentration of steroid hormones such as testosterone and beta-estradiol.

In animals, the need for boron was improved when responding to nutritional stress that adversely affected calcium metabolism, including magnesium deficiency. A combined deficiency of boron and magnesium causes changes in the animals’ bones. In two human studies, boron deprivation caused changes in variables associated with calcium metabolism in a way that could be interpreted as detrimental to bone formation and maintenance; these changes were apparently enhanced by low dietary magnesium. Alterations caused by boron deprivation included depressed plasma calcium and calcitonin, as well as increased urinary calcium excretion. Because boron and/or magnesium deprivation cause changes similar to those seen in osteoporosis and postmenopausal women, these elements are apparently required to optimize calcium metabolism. They are therefore needed to prevent the excessive bone loss that often occurs in postmenopausal women and older men.

Increasing dietary boron intake from 0.25 to 3.25 mg/day has been reported to increase plasma estradiol and testosterone and decrease urinary calcium excretion in postmenopausal women. Consequently, it is thought that the higher level of boron intake could reduce bone loss associated with menopause and loss of ovarian function. Additionally, women on a low-boron diet appeared to experience hyper-absorption of calcium. Nutritional intakes of boron have been shown to reduce the negative consequences of vitamin D deficiency in rodents. Pilot clinical studies suggest that this effect could be partially mediated by an increase in serum vitamin D. An impact of boron on vitamin D is potentially beneficial in light of the fact that many individuals’ vitamin D is in short supply during the winter; and traditional supplemental doses of this vitamin are often too low to correct this problem.

There is clinical evidence, very small per recruited cohort, that proves dietary supplementation improves estrogen and vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women. It seems that boron, among the mechanisms connected to vitamin D, can prevent its enzymatic degradation but how this happens is still unknown. In addition to estrogens, a direct effect of borate ions on bone cells cannot be excluded. Boron regulates the production of RUNX2, a protein essential for osteoblastic differentiation, bone formation and its maintenance. It is a transcription factor that works cooperatively with BMPs to stimulate osteoblast gene expression, remaining active in mature osteoblasts. BMPs are embryonic proteins that shape bones (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) and belong to the family of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta), the same one that builds scars.

Treatment with boric acid affected the metabolism of cultured human dermal fibroblasts, reducing the synthesis of extracellular matrix macromolecules such as proteoglycans, collagen and total proteins. The effects of boric acid on cartilage cells or fibroblasts were proven at least twenty years ago and more recently confirmed. Boron decreased the activity of elastase and alkaline phosphatase, but had no effect on trypsin and collagenase activities. The effect of boron on enzymatic activity was also tested in fibroblasts considered as an in vivo test. In contrast to the results obtained in vitro, boron enhanced the activities of collagenase and cathepsin D; it also stimulates the synthesis of TNF-alpha, a cytokine which, apart from its inflammatory action, is also involved in wound healing.

In 2010, Hakki et al. published research investigating the mechanisms underlying boron’s effects on osteogenesis. Boron was determined to induce mineralization of osteoblasts by regulating the expression of genes related to tissue mineralization and the actions of key hormones (17β-estradiol, testosterone, and vitamin D) involved in bone growth and turnover. Boron’s induction of tissue mineralization also underlies boron’s beneficial effects on wound healing. Boron supplementation has repeatedly been shown to markedly increase serum levels of estradiol and calcium absorption in peri- and postmenopausal women. Boron also beneficially impacts vitamin-D utilization. Supplementation with boron stimulates bone growth in vitamin-D deficient animals and alleviates the consequent dysfunctions in mineral metabolism.

Finally, it seems that organic boron can exert anti-inflammatory effects by acting directly on white blood cells. Human leukocytes exposed in vitro to organoborates (calcium fructoborate, which occurs naturally in fruit) elevate their antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD1, G6PDH, GST, etc.) and do not fully meet the triggered “oxidative burst” usually from bacteria. Perhaps because boron somehow controls the synthesis of enzymatic cofactors of intermediate metabolism: in fact, it influences the formation and activity of biomolecules such as SAM and NAD+. The latter is all the rage as a supplement even among health enthusiasts and sportsmen, because it is recognized to have an anti-aging action. Quite recently, finally, boron has been proven its immune-directed effects to be (at least) partially mediated by GPR30 protein, a cell surface receptor able to bind female estrogens.

The effects were seen at low levels, very similar to those obtained by a diet well-balanced in boron content. This may enhance the original hypothesis that the “feminine side” shown by this element could be actually tue.

  • edited by Dr. Gianfrancesco Cormaci, PhD, specialist in Clinical Biochemistry.

Scientific references

Wang C et al. Food Chem Toxicol  2020; 146:111838.

Jin E e tal. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2017; 178(2):261-275.

Zofková I et al. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2013; 51(8):1555.

Scorei RI et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011; 143(3):1223.

Hakki SS et al. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2010; 24(4):243.

Scorei R et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2007; 118(1):27-37.

Miljkovic D et al. Med Hypotheses. 2004; 63(6):1054-56.

Nietchueng RM et al. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2002; 16(4):239.

Benderdour MR et al. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2000; 14(3):168.

Benderdour MR et al. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 1998; 12(1):2-7.

Benderdour MR et al. BBRC 1997 May 8; 234(1):263-68.

Hunt CD et al. J Bone Miner Res. 1994 Feb; 9(2):171-82.

Naghii MR et al. Prog Food Nutr Sci. 1993; 17(4):331-49.

Beatty JH, Peace HS. Brit J Nutr. 1993; 69(3):871-84.

Travers RL et al. J Nutr Environ Med. 1990;1(2):127-132.

Nielsen H. Magnesium Trace Elem. 1990; 9(2):61-69.

Latest

3D mapping of cancer: the new frontier in cancer biology and how AI does help to ID

3D tumor Mmping in cancer biology 3D tumor mapping in...

Is food to be deemed a medicine? Pros and cons and if and when to consider supplements

The idea that “food is medicine” has been around...

Bariatrics vs. GLP-1 incretins: who’s the best to keep kidney health on tune?

Background Obesity is a chronic condition that affects millions of...

Expanding the roots or letting them committ: either way metabolism rules tissue “stamina” in good and bad fates

Stem cell proliferation and differentiation Stem cells have garnered significant...

Newsletter

Don't miss

3D mapping of cancer: the new frontier in cancer biology and how AI does help to ID

3D tumor Mmping in cancer biology 3D tumor mapping in...

Is food to be deemed a medicine? Pros and cons and if and when to consider supplements

The idea that “food is medicine” has been around...

Bariatrics vs. GLP-1 incretins: who’s the best to keep kidney health on tune?

Background Obesity is a chronic condition that affects millions of...

Expanding the roots or letting them committ: either way metabolism rules tissue “stamina” in good and bad fates

Stem cell proliferation and differentiation Stem cells have garnered significant...

I pericoli della luce ultravioletta e della luce blu degli schermi sul posto di lavoro

Le radiazioni ultraviolette (UV) e la luce blu emessa...
Dott. Gianfrancesco Cormaci
Dott. Gianfrancesco Cormaci
Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia nel 1998; specialista in Biochimica Clinica dal 2002; dottorato in Neurobiologia nel 2006; Ex-ricercatore, ha trascorso 5 anni negli USA (2004-2008) alle dipendenze dell' NIH/NIDA e poi della Johns Hopkins University. Guardia medica presso la casa di Cura Sant'Agata a Catania. Medico penitenziario presso CC.SR. Cavadonna (SR) Si occupa di Medicina Preventiva personalizzata e intolleranze alimentari. Detentore di un brevetto per la fabbricazione di sfarinati gluten-free a partire da regolare farina di grano. Responsabile della sezione R&D della CoFood s.r.l. per la ricerca e sviluppo di nuovi prodotti alimentari, inclusi quelli a fini medici speciali.

Le facce “adulte” dell’ADHD: capire per gestire ansia, depressione e rischio di declino cognitivo

Secondo uno studio del Rutgers Institute, gli adulti con disturbo da deficit di attenzione/iperattività (ADHD) hanno quasi tre volte più probabilità di sviluppare demenza...

E’ vero che bassi quantitativi di olio extra-vergine d’oliva nella dieta è la scelta migliore per il cuore?

Introduzione L'olio extra vergine di oliva (EVOO) è un pilastro della dieta mediterranea e ha guadagnato crescente attenzione per i suoi benefici sulla salute cardiovascolare....

Escalation delle malattie sessualmente trasmesse: il nuovo rapporto globale dei CDC

Un recente comunicato stampa dei Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ha segnalato un aumento delle malattie sessualmente trasmissibili negli Stati Uniti nel...

Questo si chiuderà in 20 secondi