The forgotten mineral that could help the prostate: what science really says about boron and PSA

Over the past few years, an oligoactive element is attracting the attention of scientific research to its possible effects on human metabolic and hormonal health. This is about Boro, a mineral naturally present in many foods of vegetable origin such as fruit, vegetables, legumes and dried fruit. Although for a long time it has been considered simply a minor nutritional element, numerous studies have begun to suggest that the boron can play a wider biological role than it thought, affecting mineral metabolism, inflammation, hormonal system and different cell processes. In the last twenty years some researchers have begun to explore the possible link between boron and prostate health, in particular with regard to the risk of prostatic diseases and the trend of P, the most used biological marker to monitor the prostate.

One of the most discussed studies on this issue was published in 2004 by Cui and colleagues and analysed boron food in a group of men with prostate cancer by comparing it with that of healthy subjects. The results showed that men who took more bore in the diet had a significantly lower risk of developing prostate cancer, with a reduction in the risk that in some cases reached up to about sixty percent compared to those who consumed smaller quantities. This result attracted a lot of attention because it suggested that boron in the diet could be associated with a less favourable metabolic environment to the development of prostate disease.

In parallel to epidemiological studies some laboratory research has tried to understand how boron can act directly on prostatic cells. A work published in 2004 by Gallardo-Williams and collaborators studied the effect of boric acid on human prostate cancer cells cultivated in the laboratory and the researchers noted that the presence of boron was associated with a reduction in the proliferation of cancer cells and an interference with some metabolic pathways involved in cell growth. Although the results obtained in the laboratory and not directly in the human organism, this type of observations has helped to strengthen the hypothesis that the boron can play a biological role in the regulation of the cellular processes affecting the prostate.

Another strand of research concerns the possible effect of the boron on systemic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is in fact considered one of the factors that can contribute to the development of prostatic alterations and the increase of the PSA. A clinical study published in 2011 by Naghii and colleagues examined the effects of boron supplementation on different biological parameters in man and noted that boron intake was associated with a reduction of some inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein and TNF-alpha. These results have led some researchers to suggest that the boron could help create a less inflammatory biological environment and thus potentially more beneficial to prostate health.

Another interesting aspect is the interaction between boron and hormonal system. Prostate is in fact a particularly sensitive organ to steroid hormones and several studies have suggested that boron can affect testosterone metabolism, estradiol and SHBG, i.e. protein that regulates the availability of sexual hormones in the blood. Some researches have shown that boron can affect the use of estrogen, testosterone and vitamin D as well as reduce some inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP and TNF-α, biological factors that are also linked to prostate physiology.

Over the years several scientific revisions have tried to sum up all the research available on the boron. Among the most mentioned are the reviews of Nielsen and Pizzorno, which highlighted how the boron is a biologically active element capable of affecting numerous physiological processes including mineral metabolism, hormonal regulation, inflammatory response and cellular function. According to these analyses the boron cannot be considered a cure for prostate diseases, but it could help to support some biological mechanisms that favor the metabolic balance of the organism.

One particularly interesting aspect is that boron is naturally found in many common foods and a diet rich in plant foods can provide significant amounts of this mineral. Among the richest boron foods we find the dried plums with about 2.7–3 mg per 100 g, lraisins with about 2–2,6 mg per 100 g? almonds with about 2.5–2,8 mg per 100 g? hazelnuts with about about 2 mg per 100 g, and theavocado with about 2 mg per 100 g. Also common fruits as well as apples and pears provide about 0.3–0,5 mg per 100 g, while among the legumes chickpeas and lentils contain average 0.7–1 mg per 100 g. Other foods such as peanuts, grapes, peaches and beans provide moderate amounts between 0.3 and 1 mg per 100 g. Generally a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide between 1 and 3 mg of boron per day.

In addition to food intake there are also supplements that allow you to take more concentrated doses of boron, often from 3 mg up to 10 mg per capsule, easily available in pharmacy, parapharmacy, nutrition stores or on specialized online platforms. These supplements are available on marketplaces such as Amazon, on international supplements such as iHerb or on European sports nutrition and natural health shops. Many formulations offer capsules from 10 mg boron per dose, often in the form of boron chelate or boron citrate, think for a simple and standardized daily intake.

Scientific research on boron and prostate is still evolving and many studies are limited or based on experimental models. However, the set of available data suggests that this trace element could play an interesting role in supporting some biological processes related to metabolic and prostate health. For this reason the boron continues to be the subject of increasing attention in nutritional and medical research.

Scientific studies cited

Cui Y., Winton M.I., Zhang Z.F., Rainey C., Marshall J., De Kernion J.B., Mack T.M. Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk – Oncology Reports, 2004

Gallardo-Williams M.T. et al. Boric acid inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation – Toxicological Sciences, 2004

Naghii M.R. et al. Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and inflammatory markers – Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2011

Nielsen F.H. Growing evidence for human health benefits of boron – Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2011

Nielsen F.H. Update on human health effects of boron – Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2014

Pizzorno L. Nothing Boring About Boron – Integrative Medicine, 2015

Rondanelli M. et al. Pivotal role of boron supplementation on bone health – Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2020

Biţă A. et al. New insights into boron essentiality in humans and animals – Nutrients, 2022

Disclaimer

The information contained in this article has solely informative and informative purposes and does not replace the advice of a qualified physician or health professional. Before taking supplements or changing your diet it is always advisable to consult your physician.