Boron is an essential mineral found in our food supply naturally, and many of us consume boron for health without knowing we're doing so.

Boron is present in eyedrops and in supplements for bone development, osteoarthritis treatment, muscle building, testosterone level increase, to aid cognitive function, and for strength improvement.

Welcome back to the Borates Today podcast.

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Who are the key players in the sector?

What are the latest trends, driving demand and supply for boron?

What is the science behind boron?

Who's doing valuable research into new boron applications and benefits?

We look at how boron helps in advanced energy, in food security,

and in providing nutrition.

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In today's podcast, we're going to look at boron in h ealthcare.

Boron is an essential mineral that's found in our food supply naturally

and many of us consume boron for health without knowing we're doing so.

Boron is present in eyedrops and in supplements for bone development,

osteoarthritis treatment, muscle building, testosterone level

increase, to aid cognitive function and for strength improvement.

It's also beneficial for women's health to relieve menstrual cramps

and reduce vaginal yeast infections.

The most common form of boron and pharmaceutical products is boric acid.

Boric acid can be crushed into a powder from its natural form.

Boron compound derivatives known as hydrogen borate, are weak acids that

are derived from the mineral boron.

They're widely used in over the counter antiseptics or astringents.

Let's Take a Look at Boron in Eye Care.

Boron is commonly used in eyecare products.

Boric acid eye washes have been on the market for many years to treat

irritation and prevent infection.

Eye care products contain a safe and balanced amount of borates so there

are no risks from consuming more than the recommended daily intake.

Eye washes are made in an isotonic solidity solution which consists of

purified water and sodium chloride.

The safest form of bore and eye drops contain just 0.12 milligrams

per drop, although the recommended daily dose is likely to be higher.

Boron has multiple benefits in eyewash.

It may inhibit bacterial or fungal growth and helps prevent some mild infections.

It's compatible with your eye tonicity.

This means that drops do not dilute or diffuse essential chemicals within

your eye fluid because it doesn't disrupt the natural eye chemistry.

It functions as a buffering ingredient.

Buffering agents are able to maintain the pH balance in a solution, even

when alkaline or acid or added.

You can add inactive or active ingredients to your solution, but

they won't alter the pH balance.

Boron Helps Women's Health

Boron appears to alter how the body processes other minerals, such as

calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

It may increase estrogen levels in both older women, especially

post-menopausal, and healthy men.

Estrogen has been shown to support healthy bones and mental function.

Boric acid can kill yeasts that cause vaginal problems.

The painful symptoms of menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea can

be alleviated using boron.

Research has shown that taking 10 milligrams per day by mouth,

during menstrual bleeding, can reduce pain in young women who

experience painful periods.

As for vaginal yeast infections.

When used in the area, boric acid has been shown to treat yeast infections

such as candidiasis successfully.

But opinions differ as to the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

Boron is also Used to Help Treat Cancer

Boron is used in anti-cancer drugs to treat multiple myeloma

relapse and mantle cell lymphoma.

Boron is directly responsible for binding the catalytic location of the 26

S proteasome a protein complex that is susceptible in the development of cancer.

Boron nutrient capture theory or BNCT has been used in cancer treatment

for a number of years where radiation and chemotherapy have limitations.

It relies on the use of neutrons for the generation of energetic alpha particles

to destroy cells within the tumor, but not in the surrounding tissue.

BNCT uses boronated agents to deliver boron-10 to tumors, which after undergoing

his radiation with neutrons yield's lithium seven and an alpha particle.

The alpha particle has a short range affectinfg tumor tissues rather

than the more distal normal tissues.

To fully realize the clinical potential BNCT, however, improvements

in existing localized delivery agent systems or new compounds that

target tumors are still necessary.

Boron- 10 is also being used in experimental research related

to the field of radiotherapy.

It may be helpful in certain medical conditions to destroy

or weaken abnormal cells.

This relatively new procedure still experimental, uses boron- 10.

Boron- 10 is concentrated on the malignant tumor and the patient is then

exposed to neutrons, which are strongly absorbed in boron, producing high energy

beta particles that can kill cancer.

Let's talk a Little About Myeloma.

Advances in research into myeloma or bone marrow cancer, promote greater

use of boron in medicinal chemistry.

For medicinal chemists, Bortozomib or Velcade, which is the registered

brand name, is a dipeptide boronic acid approved by the FDA back in

2003 and treats multiple myeloma.

Research into proteasome inhibitors, which resulted in myeloma treatment,

has opened the doors to discovering further boron containing compounds.

Boron compounds have been approved for use in the treatment

of nail fungus, for instance.

onchomycosis under the Tavaborole brand, for example, and you

Eucrisaborole for mild to moderately severe atopic dermatitis.

Boron for Therapeutics

Despite boron's proven ability to destroy biological targets and offer medical

chemists an opportunity to develop new areas for drug discovery, the medical

chemistry community has been reluctant to use boron because of the risks and lack of

synthesizing boron containing substances.

Diazaborines is one class of boron containing compounds that are being

evaluated in the field of therapeutics.

Dewar, an investigator of the the ‘nonbenzenoid’ aromaticity

heterocycles, synthesized diazaborines for the first time.

Dewar's work provides the first evidence of anti-microbial activities

for a compound containing boron.

Diazaborines possessing antibacterial activities have been awarded numerous

patents with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals publishing evaluation studies and is

a promising research area for further use of boron compounds in microbiology.

For more information on boron and healthcare applications.

Please refer to the Borates Today website.