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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term (60-d) oral supplementation with calcium fructoborate, resveratrol, and their combination on the clinical and biological statuses of subjects with stable angina pectoris. A randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled, parallel clinical trial was conducted in three groups of subjects. Of the total number of subjects included in study (n = 166), 87 completed the 60-d test treatment study period and 29 followed in parallel their usual medical care and treatment. The primary outcomes were inflammation biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), left ventricular function markers (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide), and lipid markers (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols). Quality of life was assessed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class and the number of angina attacks per week. There was a significant decrease of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in all groups at the 30-d and 60-d visits. This decrease was greater (39.7% at 60 d) for group 3 (calcium fructoborate), followed by group 2 (resveratrol plus calcium fructoborate, 30.3% at 60 d). The N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide was significantly lowered by resveratrol (group 1, 59.7% at 60 d) and by calcium fructoborate (group 3, 52.6% at 60 d). However, their combination (group 2) was the most effective and induced a decrease of 65.5%. Lipid markers showed slight changes from baseline in all groups. The improvement in the quality of life was best observed for subjects who received the resveratrol and calcium fructoborate mixture (group 2). The results indicate that the combination of resveratrol and calcium fructoborate has beneficial effects in patients with angina (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN02337806; March 25, 2010).

The emergence of membrane boundaries represents a decisive transition in the origin of life, yet the molecular nature of the earliest abiotic membranes remains uncertain. Existing models based on simple fatty acids, while experimentally tractable, often lack the environmental robustness required under fluctuating prebiotic conditions. Furthermore, the absence of clear pathways linking primitive amphiphiles to later phospholipid systems highlights the need for chemically continuous intermediate frameworks. Here, we explore borate-bridged amphiphile-carbohydrate conjugates as plausible intermediates between simple prebiotic surfactants and modern lipid bilayers. These conjugates arise from low-molecular-weight polyols-including glycerol, butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol, pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol, and hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexitol-reacting with long-chain alkyl ethers and borate species under alkaline conditions, enabling reversible coupling to ribose and other vicinal diol-containing sugars. This chemistry integrates three essential properties for early compartmentalization: hydrolytically robust ether-linked hydrophobic domains, multivalent and highly hydrated headgroups, and environmentally responsive borate coordination. Comparative physicochemical analysis suggests that single-tail alkylglycerol derivatives preferentially form micelles and interfacial films, while di- and tri-tail tetritol and pentitol conjugates favor lamellar assemblies and vesicle formation across realistic prebiotic pH and salinity ranges. Hexitol-based systems, particularly those bearing three hydrophobic chains, may act as membrane-stabilizing components that enhance rigidity and reduce permeability under extreme conditions. We propose that heterogeneous mixtures dominated by two-tail polyol diethers, supplemented by tri-tail stabilizers and surface-active alkylglycerols, could provide mechanically robust, pH-tunable, and sugar-decorated abiotic membranes. Such borate-mediated amphiphiles offer a chemically coherent framework linking carbohydrate stabilization, ether lipid persistence, and dynamic self-assembly, potentially representing a transitional stage in the evolutionary pathway from primitive amphiphilic films to biologically encoded membranes.

Boron is a unique element whose role in the major evolutionary transitions of life has long been overlooked. In this paper, we argue that boron has served as a hidden catalyst in each of the three distinct stages of life’s development: chemical life, biological life, and digital life. In the prebiotic era, borates may have stabilized key biomolecules such as ribose and RNA, facilitating the transition from abiotic chemistry to early self-organizing systems. In biological life, boron operates as a micronutrient and regulator, influencing membrane integrity, mineral metabolism, and microbiome symbiosis through microbiota-accessible borate complexes (MABs). In the speculative but increasingly relevant domain of digital life, boron emerges as a structural component in advanced materials—such as borophene and boron-doped semiconductors—that underlie next-generation information processing and artificial cognition. We propose that each transition between life stages constitutes a catastrophic phase shift, requiring a continuity agent that can bridge fundamentally different modes of information flow. We interpret these signals as a continuity of information processing across boron-influenced substrates, not an assertion of biological equivalence for digital systems. The Boron-Driven Phase Transition Model (BDPTM) offers a new lens through which to view life’s progression from molecules to machines, identifying boron as a consistent enabler of organization, stability, and informational coherence across evolutionary boundaries.

Boron (B) is increasingly recognized as more than a trace dietary element, emerging as a context-dependent organizer of molecular interactions at the host–microbiome interface. B exhibits reversible covalent chemistry driven by Lewis’ acidity and selective affinity for cis-diol-rich biomolecules, enabling dynamic complexation with polyols, glycans, and phenolic ligands that dominate the intestinal mucus environment and shape microbial ecology. We synthesize evidence supporting an architecture-based framework in which B modulates biological function by conditioning the physicochemical context of microbial communication rather than acting as a single-pathway effector. Central to this model is spatial bioavailability, distinguishing plasma-accessible boron from microbiota-accessible boron (MAB), species that persist in the lumen and mucus layer long enough to influence interface-level processes. We propose that insufficient or altered MAB availability may contribute to dysbiosis (DYS) by destabilizing quorum-associated coordination, signal persistence, and mucosal microstructure, thereby promoting barrier dysfunction and inflammaging. Particular attention is given to B-mediated symbiotaxis, a hypothesis-driven concept describing how B-containing molecular assemblies may bias microbial communities toward cooperative, barrier-supportive configurations and reduce ecological volatility. We identify key knowledge gaps and experimental priorities (speciation-aware measurements, signal-centric readouts) necessary to determine when, where, and how B-mediated molecular architecture may counteract DYS and support healthspan.

Boron (B) remains one of the least understood trace elements in human nutrition. Traditionally regarded as non-essential, its biological role has been reevaluated in light of emerging microbiome research. We provide a narrative synthesis of mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical studies to assess whether the colonic actions of B meet accepted criteria for nutritional essentiality. This review revisits B bioavailability through a dual-pathway framework distinguishing plasma-accessible boron (PAB)-small, fully absorbable species with transient systemic effects-from microbiota-accessible boron complexes (MABCs)-indigestible conjugates that reach the colon intact. Evidence indicates that PAB exerts short-term metabolic modulation, whereas MABCs act as prebiotic cofactors that stabilize microbial quorum sensing (autoinducer-2-borate; AI-2B), reinforce the colonic mucus barrier through borate-diol crosslinking, and support host-microbiota symbiosis. Deficiency or low intake of MABCs leads to dysbiosis, barrier fragility, and low-grade inflammation along gut-organ axes-effects reversible by MABC-rich diets. Analytical and clinical tools are proposed to discriminate between PAB and MABC pathways, including fecal B/speciation, AI-2B assays, and mucus-penetration markers. Recognizing B's essentiality as a microbiota-dependent nutrient reframes its nutritional assessment, guiding future dietary guidelines and prebiotic design toward the microbiome-mucus interface.

The paper describes a new, simple, selective and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the simultaneous identification and quantitative determination of boric acid (BA) and calcium fructoborate (CFB) in bulk and tablet/capsule dosage forms of dietary supplements. HPTLC silica gel G 60 F254 precoated glass plates were used as the stationary phase. The mobile phase consisted of 2-propanol–water 8:2 (v/v). The two boron-based compounds were adequately separated with the Rf values of 0.83 ± 0.01 (BA) and 0.59 ± 0.01 (CFB).

Many studies have suggested that the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is involved in an extensive spectrum of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiomyopathy, obesity, and diabetes. Further, healthy aging and longevity appear to be closely related to NAD+ and its related metabolites, including nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). As a dietary supplement, NR appears to be well tolerated, having better pharmacodynamics and greater potency. Unfortunately, NR is a reactive molecule, often unstable during its manufacturing, transport, and storage. Recently, work related to prebiotic chemistry discovered that NR borate is considerably more stable than NR itself. However, immediately upon consumption, the borate dissociates from the NR borate and is lost in the body through dilution and binding to other species, notably carbohydrates such as fructose and glucose. The NR left behind is expected to behave pharmacologically in ways identical to NR itself. This review provides a comprehensive summary (through Q1 of 2023) of the literature that makes the case for the consumption of NR as a dietary supplement. It then summarizes the challenges of delivering quality NR to consumers using standard synthesis, manufacture, shipping, and storage approaches. It concludes by outlining the advantages of NR borate in these processes.

Calcium fructoborate is a boron-based nutritional supplement. Its chemical structure is similar to one of the natural forms of boron such as bis-manitol, bis-sorbitol, bis-fructose, and bis-sucrose borate complexes found in edible plants. In vitro studies revealed that calcium fructoborate is a superoxide ion scavenger and anti-inflammatory agent. It may influence macrophage production of inflammatory mediators, can be beneficial for the suppression of cytokine production, and inhibits progression of endotoxin-associated diseases, as well as the boric acid and other boron sources. The mechanisms by which calcium fructoborate exerts its beneficial anti-inflammatory effects are not entirely clear, but some of its molecular biological in vitro activities are understood: inhibition of the superoxide within the cell; inhibition of the interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide release in the culture media; and increase of the tumor necrosis factor-α production. Also, calcium fructoborate has no effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 protein express. The studies on animals and humans with a dose range of 1–7 mg calcium fructoborate (0.025–0.175 mg elemental boron)/kg body weight/day exhibited a good anti-inflammatory activity, and it also seemed to have negligible adverse effect on humans.

Background Microbiota-accessible nutritional complexes (MAC), a formulation comprising prebiotics, postbiotics, autophagy stimulators, senolytic activators, and natural probiotics, may influence systemic biomarkers and biological aging in healthy individuals. This pilot interventional study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 60-day MAC supplementation on serum biomarkers and biological age (BioAge) in medically healthy adults. Methods: Of 13 screened, 12 enrolled; 3 were excluded from the final analysis. Nine participants (five females, four males; mean age 61 ± 9.29 years) completed 60 days of daily MAC supplementation and were included in the analyses. Serum biomarkers were measured at baseline and post-intervention. BioAge was estimated using three machine-learning regressors: Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest (RF), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Feature importance analysis was conducted to identify key predictors of BioAge. Results: No adverse events occurred. A significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels was observed from 2.66 ± 4.65 to 0.84 ± 0.54 mg/L (-69%; p  = 0.009; Cohen’s d ≈ 0.55; post-mean 95% CI: 1.44 to 5.10), indicating decreased systemic inflammation. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) also declined significantly from 171.11 ± 21.32 to 159.44 ± 26.86 U/L (-6.8%; p  = 0.038; Cohen’s d ≈ 0.22; post-mean 95% CI: 0.97 to 22.37). Other biomarkers, including gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glucose, showed trends toward improvement without reaching statistical significance. Stratified analysis revealed that females experienced a significant reduction in hs-CRP ( p  = 0.043) and a mild increase in creatinine ( p  = 0.042), whereas males exhibited non-significant trends toward improved inflammatory and metabolic markers. AI modeling indicated a reduction in BioAge for several participants. The XGBoost model consistently captured moderate improvements (e.g., Participant 7: 3.3 years), while the RF model showed more variability. SVR did not detect significant changes. An independent empirical model confirmed a statistically significant reduction in BioAge post-intervention ( p  < 0.0001). Top predictors were low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), glucose, and total cholesterol (TC) as key predictors in the RF and SVR models, while ferritin and hs-CRP ranked highest in the XGBoost model. Conclusions: Sixty days of MAC was safe and associated with clinically relevant hs-CRP reductions and small LDH decreases, alongside AI-inferred BioAge improvements most stably detected by XGBoost. Limitations include small sample size ( n  = 9), single-arm design, 60-day duration, non-fasting sampling, and a multicomponent intervention that precludes mechanistic attribution, with no microbiome/postbiotic readouts. Larger randomized trials with microbiome/metabolomic profiling and pre-registered, externally validated AI pipelines are required to confirm causality. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN85957759. Registered 04 February 2025, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN85957759 .

The microbiota–gut–brain axis has garnered increasing attention in recent years for its role in various health conditions, including neuroinflammatory disorders like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic neuropathic pain, and its etiology and pathophysiology remain elusive. Emerging research suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota composition and function could play a significant role in CRPS development and progression. Our paper explores the implications of microbiota in CRPS and the potential therapeutic role of boron (B). Studies have demonstrated that individuals with CRPS often exhibit dysbiosis, with imbalances in beneficial and pathogenic gut bacteria. Dysbiosis can lead to increased gut permeability and systemic inflammation, contributing to the chronic pain experienced in CRPS. B, an essential trace element, has shown promise in modulating the gut microbiome positively and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Recent preclinical and clinical studies suggest that B supplementation may alleviate neuropathic pain and improve CRPS symptoms by restoring microbiota balance and reducing inflammation. Our review highlights the complex interplay between microbiota, inflammation, and neuropathic pain in CRPS and underscores the potential of B as a novel therapeutic approach to target the microbiota–gut–brain axis, offering hope for improved management of this challenging condition.