FLUORIDE: A TOXIC SUBSTANCE

Over 40 years ago, I started research on fluoride, predominantly its effect on the metabolism of organisms. The research has centered on enzymatic reactions in higher plants and on bones in animals. Fluoride is inhibitory both in vivo and in vitro to enzymes in glycolysis, respiration, photosynthesis and in other pathways in higher plants. Among these enzymes or systems affected are glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase, succinic dehydrogenase, catalase, cytochrome oxidase, ATPase activity and transport, ATPase activity of the plasma membrane, the chloroplast coupling factor, and others. Some enzymes like enolase and plasma membrane ATPase are inhibited by fluoride at mMolar or lower concentrations. These are physiological levels as shown by the accumulation of the HF form of fluoride across membranes of organelles at different pH values. Fluoride has been used effectively in humans in therapy, but there are nearly always toxic side effects due to the effect of fluoride on the metabolism. Even the use of fluoride in toothpaste must now be accompanied by a poison warning as directed by the US Food and Drug Administration. This warning is necessary because of laws that went into effect April, 1997. In this issue we report on a recent newspaper article on the subject by Don Oldenburg, a staff writer of the Washington Post. The International Society for Fluoride Research has presented research for the past 30 years on fluoride toxicity that has too often been ignored by medical and dental groups.

Gene W Miller

FLUORIDE 30 (3)  1997, p. 141	International Society for Fluoride Research
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