| As our knowledge of
biological systems has increased over the past ten years, a greater
understanding of the importance of cellular communication and balance
has been reached. The integrative nature of medicine, so characteristic
of biological orchestration, has now come to embrace the use of
substances that a few decades ago were hardly recognized as important
to human health.
Coenzyme Q10, acetyl L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, lycopene,
selenium, and gamma tocopherol are a few examples of new players
in the biologic symphony.
Boron can now be added to our list of vital nutrients
in the orchestration of health.
While boron has long been known to promote healthy bone density,
new research shows that it can shrink prostate tumor size, lower
PSA, and may help to prevent prostate cancer. Additional findings
show that boron
alleviates joint discomfort and preserves cognitive
function. The good news is that this low-cost mineral
has been added to the most popular supplements that Foundation
members are already taking.
BORON’S EFFECT
ON CANCER
Boron reduces prostate cancer incidence by up to 64%
In a study by Zhang
et al, men who ingested the greatest amount of boron were 64% less likely
to develop prostate cancer (PC) compared to men who consumed the least
amount of boron (see Figure 1). This information was presented at the
annual Experimental Biology conference in Florida in 2001.1 The study,
from the Cancer Epidemiology Training Program at the UCLA School of Public
Health, compared dietary patterns of 76 men with prostate cancer to that
of 7,651 males without cancer. The greater the quantity of boron-rich foods
consumed, the greater the reduction in risk of being diagnosed with prostate
cancer. Those men consuming the most boron (i.e., in the upper quartile of
boron consumption) had a 64% reduction in prostate cancer, while men in the
second quartile had a 35% reduction in risk and those in the third quartile
reduced their risk by 24%. Men in the lowest quartile of boron consumption
ate roughly one slice of fruit per day, while those in the highest quartile
consumed 3.5 servings of fruit per day plus one serving of nuts. Boron-rich
foods include plums, grapes, prunes, avocados, and nuts such as almonds and
peanuts. A serving of 100 grams of prunes (12 dried prunes) has 2-3 mg of
boron and 6.1 grams of fiber.2
 |
FIGURE 1. Lower Prostate Cancer Risk Associated with Boron Consumption.
Those men consuming the most boron had the greatest protective effect
against the development of prostate cancer. Sources of boron include
non-citrus fruits like dried prunes, plums, grapes, raisins, nuts
such as almonds and peanuts, red wine, and coffee. No protective
effect of boron was noted against breast, colorectal, uterine,
cervical, or skin cancers.18 |
Boric acid acts to inhibit serine
proteases—it decreases PSA
by 87% and reduces tumor size in a prostate cancer mouse model
The mechanism
of boron’s effect on reducing prostate cancer incidence
in the study by Zhang et al previously cited is not known. However, a preliminary
report on the effect of boric acid (boron) solutions given to mice bearing
the human prostate cancer cell-line called LNCaP may shed some light on this
mechanism. In a study published in the 2002 Proceedings of the American Association
of Cancer Research, Gallardo-Williams et al indicated that mice receiving 1.7
or 9.0 mg/kg/day of boric acid solution orally had decreases in tumor size
by 38% and 25%, respectively.3 The same groups had drops in PSA (prostate-specific
antigen) of 88.6% and 86.4%, respectively. The control group receiving only
water had no drop in PSA or decrease in tumor size.
Additional findings of interest included a decreased amount of mitoses in the
mice treated with boric acid compared to the control group. Mitoses reflect
chromosomes or genetic material that are in the process of cell division. Mitotic
figures can be seen using a conventional microscope; the greater the number
of mitoses, the greater the intensity of cell division and tumor growth (see
Figure 2). The authors also found that the histochemical expression of IGF-1
(insulin-like growth factor type 1) was markedly reduced by boron treatment.
Circulating blood levels of IGF-1 were not reduced in the treated mice, however.
 |
FIGURE 2:
Mitoses in Prostate Cancer Biopsy. Mitoses (also called mitotic figures) may be easily
found using the light microscope. If mitoses are abundant in number,
it can be presumed that the proliferative rate of the tumor is high.
High mitotic rates are seen with more aggressive histologic grades
of prostate cancer. |
This study by Gallardo-Williams is of potentially great significance and
the rationale for such a study merits further discussion. The authors’ evaluation
of boric acid was based on a hypothesis that relates to the important finding
that PSA is not only a biomarker of prostate cancer activity but also a functional
enzyme produced by prostate cancer cells that acts to promote its very own
tumor growth.10 My interpretation of their hypothesis is as follows:
- PSA is an enzyme (a serine protease) that frees IGF-1 from insulin-like
growth factor binding protein.
- IGF-1 has been shown to promote the growth of prostate cancer.
- A reduction in PSA’s enzymatic activity should decrease the amount
of IGF-1. This in turn should decrease prostate cancer growth.
- Boric acid is a known inhibitor of several serine proteases.
- Blood boric acid levels as low as 8 mcg/ml can inhibit the proteolytic
activity of PSA (authors’ separate work).
- Boric acid administration should therefore reduce PSA.
- This reduction of PSA should be accompanied by decreased expression
of IGF-1 and decreased tumor growth.
This report apparently has led to further clinical trials now in progress.
The anti-cancer effect of boron compounds has been the subject of prior studies
that involved tumor cell lines of human malignancies grown in culture. These
studies are summarized in Table 1.
Acute lymphocytic leukemiaChronic lymphocytic leukemia |
Growth inhibition after treatment with boron compounds |
dihydroxy (oxybiguanido) boron (iii) hydrochloride monohydrate (HB)
guanidine biboric acid adduct (GB)
hydroxosalicyl hydroxomato boron (iii) (SHB) |
4 |
Ehrlich ascites tumor
|
Significant anti-tumor action that was further increased by combining
with ultrasound therapy |
dihydroxy (oxybiguanido) boron (III) hydrochloride monohydrate |
5 |
Ehrlich ascites tumor
|
Significantly increased survival time |
guanidine biboric acid adduct (GB)
|
6 |
L1210 murine leukemia cellsDU-145 prostate
cancer cellsA549 lung
carcinoma cellsMCF-7 breast
cancer cells |
Dose-dependently
inhibited DNA synthesis
|
Borato-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (II) (BDP) |
7 |
LNCaP prostate
cancer cells |
Reduced PSA by 86-89% and reduced tumor volume by 25-38%; mitoses and
IGF-1 decreased in tissue studies
|
Boric acid solution |
3 |
Mouse and human leukemiasHuman uterine,
colon, and lung
adenocarcinomasHuman gliomas |
Inhibited growth
|
Amino-o-carborane-hydrochloride 7
|
8 |
Murine and human leukemia Uterine carcinoma tumor cell lines |
Potent in vivo antineoplastic activity and in vitro cytotoxicity |
Adenosine 5’[N,N-di-(gamma-o-carboranyl)propyl] phosphorodiamidate
1 |
9 |
TABLE 1. Anti-Cancer Activity of Boron. Studies of
the anti-cancer efficacy of a number of boron compounds against a wide
range of tumor cell lines (shown above) warrant clinical trials in humans. |
BORON’S EFFECT ON BONE METABOLISM
Calcium-Magnesium <=> Boron Interactions
A large number of experiments
conducted in humans involving boron supplementation or deprivation show
that boron is vitally involved in bone metabolism. It is well accepted
that calcium and magnesium are important constituents or building blocks
of healthy bone. In situations of adequate calcium supply but deficient
magnesium resources, boron appears to substitute or “pinch
hit” for magnesium during the process of bone formation. Under such
conditions, the concentration of boron within bone tissue increases.
Boron’s effect on bone appears to be mediated by its ability to reduce
the urinary excretion of calcium and also magnesium. In situations where adequate
boron intake rather than boron depletion prevails, the net effect of boron
is to raise ionized calcium levels. This effect of boron—to preserve
calcium and decrease urinary losses of calcium—is caused by its actions
on the kidney.
As stated above, this calcium-preserving effect of boron becomes pronounced
in circumstances in which dietary magnesium is low. With this biologic effect,
boron is acting as a backup system to preserve calcium in the blood and reduce
urinary calcium loss. In effect, boron acts literally and figuratively as
a “bodyguard” to
preserve calcium and magnesium in situations of nutritional stress that would
otherwise adversely affect metabolic processes involved with these substances.11 |