Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether geographic area or water fluoride were related to the occurrence of fractures among the elderly in the United States. We used a 5% sample of the white U.S. Medicare population, aged 65 to 89 years during the period 1986-1990, to identify fractures of the hip, proximal humerus, distal forearm, and ankle. The association of geographic region and fluoridation status with fracture rates was assessed using Poisson regression. We found that rates of hip fracture were generally lower in the northern regions of the United States and higher in the southern regions. For fractures of the distal forearm and proximal humerus, lower rates were found in the Western states, and higher rates in the East. No discernible geographic pattern was found for ankle fractures. Adjustment for water fluoridation did not influence these results. Independent of geographic effects, men in fluoridated areas had modestly higher rates of fractures of the distal forearm and proximal humerus than did men in nonfluoridated areas; no such differences were observed among women, nor for fractures of the hip or ankle among either men or women. In conclusion, our data suggest that fractures of the distal forearm and proximal humerus have etiologic determinants distinct from those of fractures of the hip or ankle.

• Related Studies :

  • Marked decrease in trabecular bone quality after five years of sodium fluoride therapy--assessed by biomechanical testing of iliac crest bone biopsies in osteoporotic patients

    Sodium fluoride has for more than 2 decades been a commonly used therapeutic agent for established osteoporosis because of a repeatedly documented anabolic effect on trabecular bone mass. Recently, however, three controlled trials have failed to demonstrate any therapeutic advantage of NaF over placebo with respect to vertebral fracture rate.

  • A case of thick but brittle bones and instant tea

    CASE DESCRIPTION A 45-year-old white male was found to have radiographic findings of a diffusely dense appendicular skeleton, mild trabecular thickening, and multiple thoracic compression fractures indicating structural weakness. Bone mineral density was above the expected range for his age on the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Social history was significant

  • Low-dose fluoride in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

    CONTEXT: Trials of high-dose fluoride have reported increased bone formation and bone mineral density (BMD), but impaired bone mineralization and either adverse or neutral effects on fracture risk. Meta-analysis of a heterogeneous dataset of small trials suggests that daily doses of <20 mg fluoride might reduce fracture risk, but it is

  • Effect of fluoride on collagen synthesis in the rat

    Thirty-six young rats were used to determine the effect of the fluoride on collagen synthesis in healing of fracture. Eighteen rats received 100 ppm fluoride per day, the other 18 were not given fluoride and were used as controls. Then the tibiae of the 36 rats were successively fractured and

  • The effect of tamoxifen and fluoride on bone mineral density, biomechanical properties and blood lipids in ovariectomized rats

    The most important aspect of therapy with fluoride and tamoxifen concerns its influence on bone tissue and lipid metabolism. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen and natrium fluoride (NaF) on bone metabolism, biochemical properties and blood lipids levels in ovariectomized rats. The study was

• Related FAN Content :

  • Fluoride Reduces Bone Strength Prior to Onset of Skeletal Fluorosis

    The majority of animal studies investigating fluoride's impact on bone strength have found that fluoride has either no effect, or a detrimental effect, on bone strength. Importantly, several of the animal studies that have found fluoride reductes bone strength have reported that this reduction in strength occurs before signs of skeletal fluorosis

  • In Vitro Studies on Fluoride & Bone Strength

    The "in vitro" research on fluoride and bone strength confirms what has repeatedly been found in animal and human studies: the more fluoride a bone has, the weaker the bone becomes. In an in vitro bone study, the researcher directly exposes a human or animal bone to a fluoride solution

  • Fluoride & Osteoarthritis

    While the osteoarthritic effects that occurred from fluoride exposure were once considered to be limited to those with skeletal fluorosis, recent research shows that fluoride can cause osteoarthritis in the absence of traditionally defined fluorosis. Conventional methods used for detecting skeletal fluorosis, therefore, will fail to detect the full range of people suffering from fluoride-induced osteoarthritis.

  • Fluoride in Water & Bone Fracture

    Current epidemiological evidence indicates that the margin of safety between the level of fluoride in water that does, and does not, increase the risk of fracture is insufficiently large to protect all members of society from fluoride-induced damage to bone.

  • Fluoride Reduces Bone Strength in Animals

    Most animal studies investigating how fluoride effects bone strength have found either a detrimental effect, or no effect. Few animal studies have found a beneficial effect. In fact, one of the few studies that found a beneficial effect was unable to be repeated by the same authors in a later