[Fluorides and bones].

Abstract

Fluorides began to be used in the treatment of osteoporosis in the sixties when it was found that in areas with a high fluoride content of drinking water the prevalence of this disease is low. Fluorides stimulate osteoblasts to form more osteoid, and moreover larger crystals of bone mineral are formed which are more resistant to resorption by osteoclasts. Fluorides must be, however, administered always in combination with calcium and vitamin D. In the eighties a certain group of osteologists started a "campaign" against fluorides and maintained that after fluorides bone is of poor quality and there in a greater risk of fractures. All was explained by the fact that these authors administered fluorides alone in large doses. Recently with the introduction of monofluorophosphate into treatment instead of NaF there was a revival of fluorides which in combination with calcium and vitamin D are among the best stimulators of new formation of bone; after fluorides the bone density improves and they are used also in osteoporosis and preventively to avoid fractures.