Evidence that fluoride therapy increases trabecular bone density in a peripheral skeletal site.
We measured the spinal bone density (SBD) and femoral condyle bone density (FCD) in normal and osteoporotic females (n = 219) both before and during fluoride therapy. SBD and FCD in untreated osteoporotics were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those in the age-matched controls. SBD and FCD were correlated in the untreated (r = 0.62; P < 0.0001) as well as in the fluoride-treated osteoporotics (r = 0.42; P < 0.0001). SBD and FCD were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in response to fluoride therapy. The average rates of increase in FCD and SBD were similar (1.3 +/- 1.3 vs. 1.24 +/- 1.4 mg/cc.month). We conclude that the osteogenic action of fluoride is not limited to the axial skeleton. An increase in trabecular bone density also occurs at peripheral weight-bearing sites such as the femoral condyle.
Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California.
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Resch
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Libanati
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Farley
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Bettica
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Schulz
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D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D005459:Fluorides