Fluorine - Fluoride (F)
Fluorine is a trace mineral found in minute amount in all human tissues but primarily in the skeleton and teeth. It occurs in the body in the body in compounds called fluorides. It was noticed by dentists in early 1900s that people living in South-Western Unite States, where the water had naturally high concentration of fluoride, had small spots on their teeth called molting.
This was a discoloration due to fluoride deposits but the teeth were virtually free of dental caries. Experiments suggested that fluoride was important to the health of teeth and decreases the rate of dental caries. In 1945 Unite States began controlled water fluoridation.
There are two types of this mineral: calcium fluoride that is found in nature and sodium fluoride the type used to fluoridate drinking water. Although traces of fluoride may be beneficial higher amounts are harmful. Absorption of this mineral occurs rapidly throughout the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Equilibrium of ingested fluoride is achieved be renal excretion (urine) and calcified tissue deposition; 50% of the daily absorbed fluoride is deposited in the bones and teeth. The recommended amount of fluoride in the water is 1 part per million parts of water.
Fluoride has the means of stimulating the bone forming cells, osteoblasts and the ability top increase bone mass. For this reason it has been used experimentally on adults suffering severe forms of osteoporosis mostly that of the spine. However, such high doses are not free from side effects.
Ongoing treatment can result in stomach and bone pains and inhibit important enzyme activities. Fluoride is antagonistic towards brain tissue and excess intake of this mineral can destroy phoshoptase an enzyme vital to many processes including that of vitamin metabolism.
The main dietary source of this mineral is drinking water. Tea, seafood and seaweed are other riches sources of this mineral. Tooth paste, fluoride treatment and mouth rinses are sources of fluoride. The adequate intake for fluoride is 3 mg/day for adult women and 4 mg/day for adult men. A daily intake of more than 5 mg/day can mottle the teeth during their development stage. Intakes of 15 to 20 mg/day results in fluorosis that weakens tooth structure during the development and teeth can crumble. High intakes do not cause mottling in adults.
Upper level for fluoride is 9 mg/day. Although rare toxicity can be life threatening. Toxicity signs and symptoms from this mineral can develop rapidly and include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation, cardiac weakness and inefficiencies, sensory disturbances, convulsions, paralysis and coma.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists reported that a review of all of the studies done to date shows that fluoride affects fertility adversely in most animal species. The FDA does not consider fluoride an essential nutrient.
Fluoride is a trace mineral found in varying concentrations in foods and in water. Foods high in fluoride include fish, tea and many different vegetables. Fluoride (sodium fluoride) is added into the municipal water supply.
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