Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

In a new approach to an understanding of the genesis of nonskeletal and skeletal fluorosis, glutathione content in blood was investigated. Thirty cases of fluorosis and forty controls (20 from fluorotic and 20 from nonfluorotic areas) were studied. In fluorotic subjects, blood glutathione concentration was significantly elevated. Urinary hydroxyproline and serum alkaline phosphatase data were also correlated. It appears that the persistent stress of the F- ion demands a protective redox maintainer and that glutatione fulfills that need.