Boron intake, osteocalcin polymorphism and serum level in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Bone Metabolism
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Boron and osteocalcin play crucial roles in bone metabolism.
• The precise impact of boron on bone health, especially in postmenopausal women, requires further elucidation.
• Osteoporosis is a significant concern for postmenopausal women, highlighting the need to understand factors influencing bone density.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between daily boron intake and osteocalcin-mediated osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
• To assess the influence of varying boron concentrations in drinking water on serum osteocalcin levels and bone metabolism markers.
• To examine the association between osteocalcin gene polymorphism (rs1800247) and boron exposure in relation to bone health.

Main Methods:

• Study involved 53 postmenopausal women (aged 55-60) from Balikesir, Turkey, with differing natural boron exposure levels in drinking water (high ≥1 mg/L vs. low <1 mg/L).
• Boron intake was quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) on 24-h urine samples, with creatinine clearance ensuring sample validity (80-124 mL/min).
• Serum osteocalcin levels were measured via ELISA, and osteocalcin polymorphism rs1800247 was analyzed using PCR-RFLP.

Main Results:

• Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in boron-exposed postmenopausal women compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05).
• No significant correlation was found between serum osteocalcin levels and rs1800247 polymorphism in either group (P > 0.05).
• Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in the CC genotype compared to the TC genotype within the boron-exposed group (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Daily boron intake, particularly around 1 mg/L, may exert a positive influence on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.
• The findings suggest a potential role for boron in modulating bone health markers, independent of osteocalcin gene polymorphism rs1800247.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the mechanisms by which boron impacts bone metabolism and its implications for osteoporosis prevention.