Effect Of Tamarind Ingestion On Fluoride Excretion In Humans By AL Khandare , GS Rao and N Lakshmaiah

Hydrofluorosis is a major public health problem in 17 out of the 32 constituent states of India. Around 62 million people including 6 million children suffer from fluorosis due to excessive consumption of fluoride through water (Susheela, 1999). Various techniques for the defluoridation of drinking water have been adopted by the government and nongovernmental agencies, but the problem remains unresolved as of today. Medical intervention is not possible for this disease due to unavailability of any specific drugs or medicines for treatment. Short-term studies on animals (Wagner & Muhler, 1960) and humans (Jowsey & Riggs, 1978) indicated that  calcium salts interfere with fluoride absorption. Aluminium salts were also used in cattle to counter fluoride toxicity (Allcroft & Burns, 1969). Although fluoride accumulation in bone was delayed, complete prevention was not possible and toxic side effects of aluminium were not ruled out. Calcium and phosphorous supplementation did not enhance the beneficial effect of aluminium salts. Although serpentine (magnesium metasilicate) administration ameliorated clinical symptoms to some extent (Reddy et al, 1985), long-term toxicological studies were not undertaken. Borate was found to offer some protection in long-term animal studies (Elsaret al, 1979). The effect of cereals on fluoride retention was studied in normal humans by Lakshmaiah and Srikantia (1977). Fluoride excretion in urine was found to be significantly greater on rice-based diets as compared to jowar-based diets. Similar experiments on rats using sorghun-, wheat- and rice-based diets showed increased retention of fluoride in femur bone on sorghum-based diets as compared to wheat- and rice-based diets (Lakshmi & Lakshmaiah, 1999). However, further studies on the effect of various components of diets on fluoride retention in the body are not available.

Link : http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v56/n1/full/1601287a.html