Boron — the element you’ve never heard of, but without it do your joints hurt?

Aim of the study: Calcium fructoborate (CF), a natural sugar-borate ester found in fresh fruits and vegetables, is a source of soluble boron. CF contains three forms of borate (diester, monoester, and boric acid) and all are biologically active, both at the intracellular (as free boric acid) and extracellular level (as fructose-borate diester and monoester).

Results: CF is commercially available in the USA as a “nature-identical” complex, an active compound for dietary supplements. It provides effective and safe support against the discomfort and lack of flexibility associated with osteoarticular conditions (arthritis and joint degeneration), and improves Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) and McGill indexes. In addition, orally administered CF is effective in ameliorating symptoms of physiological response to stress, including inflammation of the mucous membranes, discomfort associated with osteoarthritis disorders, and bone loss, and also for supporting cardiovascular health. Clinical studies have exhibited the ability of CF to significantly modulate molecular markers associated with inflammatory mechanisms, mainly on the elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP).

Aim of the study: Since 1963, evidence has accumulated that suggests boron is a safe and effective treatment for some forms of arthritis. The initial evidence was that boron supplementation alleviated arthritic pain and discomfort of the author.

Results: This was followed by findings from numerous other observations, epidemiologic studies, and controlled animal and human experiments. These findings included a) analytical evidence of lower boron concentrations in femur heads, bones, and synovial fluid from people with arthritis than from those without this disorder; b) observational evidence that bones of patients using boron supplements are much harder to cut than those of patients not using supplements; c) epidemiologic evidence that in areas of the world where boron intakes usually are 1.0 mg or less/day the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 20 to 70%, whereas in areas of the world where boron intakes are usually 3 to 10 mg, the estimated incidence of arthritis ranges from 0 to 10%; d) experimental evidence that rats with induced arthritis benefit from orally or intraperitoneally administered boron; e) experimental evidence from a double-blind placebo-boron supplementation trial with 20 subjects with osteoarthritis.

Aim of the study: The composition and microstructure of bone tissue engineering scaffolds play a significant role in regulating cell infiltration, proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix production. While boron is an essential trace element for bone formation, growth, and health, boron-containing biomaterials are poorly studied.

Results: In cell culture experiments, a significant number of cells infiltrated and adhered to the interior of the scaffolds. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into the osteogenic lineage depending on the amount of boron incorporated into the hybrid scaffolds. Consistent with this, scaffolds containing 2-mol% boron (calculated as % of the inorganic component) had an optimum effect on lineage expressions for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN). These results suggest that PCL/BPSG hybrid scaffolds with optimum-level boron may enhance bone formation.

Aim of the study: Osteoporosis is a chronic metabolic bone disease that leads to decreased mineral density and causes damage to bone microarchitecture. Elderly persons are more susceptible to bone fractures and have reduced bone strength due to osteoporosis.

Results: Macronutrients, especially proteins from soy, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, supply essential amino acids vital for type I collagen synthesis, osteoblast differentiation, and bone-forming signalling pathways, promoting bone regeneration and structural integrity. Micronutrients from green leafy vegetables, including magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, zinc, and boron, contribute to mineral homeostasis, enhance calcium absorption, manage oxidative stress, and impact key pathways in bone remodeling, such as RANKL/OPG, Wnt/β-catenin, estrogen modulation, and antioxidant mechanisms. This review examines the current research on the usefulness of macronutrients and micronutrients from numerous plant sources in promoting bone tissue regeneration and reducing dependence on synthetic anti-osteoporotic treatment. It highlights their roles as sustainable, low-risk supplements to traditional osteoporosis treatments by integrating molecular insights with dietary knowledge.

Aim of the study: Osteoarthritis (OA) primarly involves the degradation of joint cartilage and requires new treatments. REJENERA©, a newly developed nutraceutical formula against OA, contains primarily olive leaf bioflavonoids ( ZeyEX©, quercetin and luteolin), S-allylcysteine, palmitoylethanolamide, L-proline, hyaluronic acid and boron.

Results: ZeyEX increased IL-2, NPROC increased IL-6, and IBUPROFEN inhibited IL-10. All treatments improved TIMP-1 levels; however, TXNIP was more significantly inhibited by ZeyEX, and NLRP3 by REJENERA. REJENERA's anti-OA effects are accompanied by an increase in cartilage anabolic factors (Ki-67, type-II collagen, BMP-7) and inhibition of apoptosis. REJENERA offers a promising multi-targeted therapeutic approach to treating OA by blocking the iNOS-TXNIP-NLRP3 signaling axis, and reducing oxidative stress.