Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

The status of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidants was studied in red cell blood lysates of male subjects, aged 41-50, living in an endemic fluorosis area, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The men were divided into four groups: 1) normal healthy individuals (n=10); 2) individuals with mild dental fluorosis (n=13); 3) individual with moderate dental fluorosis (n=8); 4) individuals with severe dental fluorosis (n=7). In the groups with dental fluorosis, the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was higher in the red blood cell lysates along with a concomitant decrease in the levels of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Statistical analysis of all the group data revealed that increased lipid peroxidation and altered antioxidant status induced by fluoride were strongly associated with the prevalence of dental fluorosis.