Selected physiological effects of boron compounds for animals and humans. A review

摘要

Boron is a metalloid that plays an important role in the functioning of cell membrane, enzymatic reactions and the hormonal and mineral metabolism of animals. Boron is also thought to be an essential metalloid for animals. Boron compounds have a wide range of physiological effects in living organisms when occurring at low levels, while toxic at high levels. Boron does not accumulate efficiently in soft tissues; but it accumulates efficiently in the bones. More than 90% of the excessive amount of borate in mammals is excreted as boric acid in the urine. Boron has an impact on skeletal metabolism, thus it affects bone growth and compositional properties of soft tissues in animals and humans. Boron-rich diets have a beneficial impact on the calcification and maintenance of mammalian bones, central nervous system functions, and also play a positive role in maintaining the structural integrity and function of cell membranes. Borate in the perinatal diet of cattle improves animal metabolic status stimulating glucose metabolism and limiting lipolysis intensity. The main purpose of the present review was to recapitulate the most important findings regarding the biochemical mechanisms responsible for beneficial physiological effects of boron in animals and humans.