Top

Cancer Causes & Control

Published in:

01-12-2007 | Original Paper

Boron intake and prostate cancer risk

Authors: Alejandro Gonzalez, Ulrike Peters, Johanna W. Lampe, Emily White

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 10/2007

Abstract

Introduction

Experimental studies suggest that boron may prevent prostate cancer. Only one small epidemiological study has been conducted of boron, which found that those in the highest quartile of boron intake had less than half the risk of prostate cancer versus those in the lowest quartile.

Methods

We evaluated the association between boron intake and prostate cancer within the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort. A total of 35,244 men completed the baseline supplement and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in 2000–2002. A boron database was constructed from published sources to estimate boron intake from the FFQ and from multivitamins. A total of 832 men developed prostate cancer from baseline to 31 December 2004.

Results

Dietary boron intake and total boron intake from diet plus multivitamins were not associated with prostate cancer risk. The hazard ratio of prostate cancer for those in the highest versus lowest quartile of total boron intake was 1.17 (95% CI 0.85, 1.61). This risk did not vary by prostate cancer stage or Gleason score. Furthermore, none of the foods high in boron content was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer.

Discussion

This cohort study provides no evidence for a preventive role of boron intake on prostate cancer. Since few studies exist on this topic, future research is needed to better elucidate any role that boron may play in the prevention of prostate cancer.

American Cancer Society (2003) Cancer facts & figures. Atlanta, GA, pp 10–16

Signorello LB, Adami H-O (2002) Prostate cancer. In: Adami H-O, Hunter D, Trichopouluss D (eds) Textbook of cancer epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 400–428

Gallardo-Williams M, Maronport RR, Wine RN, Brunssen SH, Chapin RE (2003) Inhibition of the enzymatic activity of prostate-specific antigen by boric acid and 3-nitrophenyl boronic acid. The Prostate 54:44–49PubMedCrossRef

Gallardo-Williams MT, Chapin RE, King PE, Moser GJ, Goldsworthy TL, Morrison JP, Maronpot RR (2004) Boron supplementation inhibits the growth and local expression of IGF-1 in human prostate adenocarcinoma (LNCaP) tumors in nude mice. Toxicol Pathol 32(1):73–78PubMedCrossRef

Barranco WT, Eckhert CD (2004) Boric acid inhibits human prostate cancer cell proliferation. Cancer Lett 216:21–29PubMedCrossRef

Barranco WT, Eckhert CD (2006) Cellular changes in boric acid-treated DU-145 prostate cancer cells. Br J Cancer 94(6):884–890PubMedCrossRef

Barret-Connor E, Garland C, McPhillips JB, Khaw KT, Wingard DL (1990) A prospective, population-based study of androstenedione, estrogens, and prostatic cancer. Cancer Res 50:169–173

Chen C, Weiss NS, Stanczyk FZ, Lewis SK, DiTommaso D, Etzioni R, Barnett MJ, Goodman GE (2003) Endogenous sex hormones and prostate cancer risk: a case–control study nested within the carotene and retinol efficacy trial. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 12:1410–1416PubMed

Gann PH, Hennekens CH, Ma J, Longcope C, Stampfer MJ (1996) Prospective study of sex hormones and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 88:1118–1126PubMedCrossRef

10.

Severi G, Morris HA, MacInnis RJ, English DR, Tilley W, Hopper JL, Boyle P, Giles GG (2006) Circulating steroid hormones and the risk of prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15:86–91PubMedCrossRef

11.

Shaneyfelt T, Husein R, Bubley G, Mantzoros CS (2000) Hormonal predictors of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol 18:847–853PubMed

12.

Naghii MR, Samman S (1997) The effect of boron supplementation on its urinary excretion and selected cardiovascular risk factors in healthy male subjects. Biol Trace Elem Res 56:273–286PubMed

13.

Nielsen FH, Hunt CD, Mullen LM, Hunt JR (1987) Effect of dietary boron on mineral, estrogen, and testosterone metabolism in postmenopausal women. FASEB J 1:394–397PubMed

14.

Bosland MC (2000) The role of steroid hormones in prostate carcinogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 27:39–66PubMed

15.

Cui Y, Winton MI, Zhang Z, Rainey C, Marshall J, De Kernion JB, Eckhert CD (2004) Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk. Oncol Rep 11:887–892PubMed

16.

Barranco WT, Hudak PF, Eckhert CD (2007) Evaluation of ecological and in vitro effects of boron on prostate cancer risk (United States). Cancer Causes Control 18(1):71–77PubMedCrossRef

17.

Schakel SF, Buzzard IM, Gebhardt SE (1997) Procedures for estimating nutrient values for food composition databases. J Food Compost Anal 10:102–114CrossRef

18.

White E, Patterson RE, Kristal AR, Thornquist M, King IB, Shattuck AL (2004) VITamins And Lifestyle cohort study: study design and characteristics of supplement users. Am J Epidemiol 159(1):83–93PubMedCrossRef

19.

Hunt CD, Meacham SL (2001) Boron concentrations in common Western foods and estimated daily intakes by infants, toddlers, and male and female adolescents, adults, and seniors in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc 101:1058–1060PubMedCrossRef

20.

Pillow C, Duphorne CH (1999) Development of a database for assessing dietary phytoestrogen intake. Nutr Cancer 33:3–19PubMed

21.

Littman AJ, White E, Kristal AR, Patterson SA, Satia-Abouta J, Potter JD (2003) Assessment of a one-page questionnaire on long-term recreational physical activity. Epidemiology 15:105–113CrossRef

22.

Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, Irwin ML, Swartz AM, Strath SJ, O’Brien WL, Bassett DR Jr, Schmitz KH, Emplaincourt PO, Jacobs DR Jr, Leon AS (2000) Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:S498–S504PubMedCrossRef

23.

Velicer CM, Kristal AR, White E (2006) Alcohol use and the risk of prostate cancer: results from the VITAL cohort study. Nutr Cancer 56:50–56PubMedCrossRef

24.

Hayes RB, Brown LM, Schoenberg JB, Greenberg RS, Silverman DT, Schwartz AG, Swanson GM, Benichou J, Liff JM, Hoover RN, Pottern LM (1996) Alcohol use and prostate cancer risk in US blacks and whites. Am J Epidemiol 143:692–697PubMed

25.

Hiatt RA, Armstrong MA, Klatsky AL, Sidney S (1994) Alcohol consumption, smoking, and other risk factors and prostate cancer in a large health plan cohort in California. Cancer Causes Control 5:66–72PubMedCrossRef

26.

Putman SD, Cerhan JR, Parker AS, Bianchi GD, Wallace RB, Cantor KP, Lynch CF (2000) Lifestyle and anthropometric risk factors for prostate cancer in a cohort of Iowa men. Ann Epidemiol 10:361–369CrossRef

27.

Slattery ML, West DW (1993) Smoking, alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine, and theobrime: risk of prostate cancer in Utah. Cancer Causes Control 4:559–563PubMedCrossRef

28.

Tavani A, Negri E, Francschi S, Talamini R, La Vecchia C (1994) Alcohol consumption and risk prostate cancer. Nutr Cancer 21:25–31CrossRef

29.

Platz EA, Leitzmann MF, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Giovannucci E (2004) Alcohol intake, drinking patterns, and risk of prostate cancer in a large prospective cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 159:444–453PubMedCrossRef

30.

Schoonen WM, Salinas CA, Kiemeney LA, Stanford JL (2005) Alcohol consumption and risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men. Int J Cancer 113:133–140PubMedCrossRef

31.

Schuurman AG, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA (1999) A prospective cohort study on consumption of alcoholic beverages in relation to prostate cancer incidence (The Netherlands). Cancer Causes Control 10:597–605PubMedCrossRef

32.

Close D, Kristal A, Patterson R, White E (1998) Associations of demographic and health-related characteristics with prostate cancer screening in Washington State. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarker Prev 7:627–630

33.

Hunt CD (1999) Biochemical effects of physiological amounts of dietary boron. J Trace Elem Exp Med 9:185–213CrossRef

34.

Willett W (1998) Nutritional epidemiology, (2nd edn). Oxford University Press, New York, pp 74–100

Title: Boron intake and prostate cancer risk
Authors: Alejandro Gonzalez
Ulrike Peters
Johanna W. Lampe
Emily White
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 10/2007
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9052-2

Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 10/2007

IL6 genotypes and colon and rectal cancer

Does excess iron play a role in breast carcinogenesis? an unresolved hypothesis

No sex difference observed in the association between intra-uterine growth and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia radiogenicity: a systematic review

Qualitative age interactions (or effect modification) suggest different cancer pathways for early-onset and late-onset breast cancers

A population-based study of survival in patients with secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): impact of type and treatment of primary cancers

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer