Human vertebral bone: Relation of strength, porosity, and mineralization to fluoride content

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1980

Abstract

Radiographically normal vertebral bone cylinders from 80 male subjects were tested mechanically by static compression and analyzed for porosity, fluoride and ash content. As a group, they had low fluoride content, suggesting little prior intake, consonent with this geographic area. Nevertheless, increasing levels of fluoride were associated with bulkier bone, less porosity, and less mineral per unit of bone, which in direction though not degree suggested changes similar to those of osteomalacia and opposite from those of osteoporosis without apparent threshold. The higher fluoride hard tissue was weaker in static tests than that with less fluoride, but the increased bulk apparently offset this, resulting in bones of unchanged static strength. Hence, water fluoridation should not alter static bone strength. There has, however, been a recent report suggesting that increased mineralization of bone renders it more brittle and thus more likely to fracture on impact. Therefore, the possibility that fluoridation may increase impact resistance by lessening mineralization can be entertained. © 1980 Springer-Verlag.

Identifier

0019131083 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Calcified Tissue International

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02408540

e-ISSN

14320827

ISSN

0171967X

PubMed ID

6775787

First Page

189

Last Page

194

Issue

1

Volume

32

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