title: Fluoride content in caffeinated, decaffeinated and herbal teas.
abstract: The fluoride contents of infusions prepared from 44 different brands and types of teas were measured. Fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.34 to 3.71 ppm (mean = 1.50 ppm) in caffeinated tea infusions, 0.02-0.14 ppm (mean = 0.05 ppm) in herbal tea infusions, and 1.01-5.20 ppm (mean = 3.19) in decaffeinated tea infusions. This is the first report of the fluoride content of decaffeinated teas. The mean fluoride content of decaffeinated tea infusions is significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the corresponding caffeinated tea. The use of mineral water containing a naturally high fluoride level during the process of decaffeination is the most likely explanation of the above observation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002110:Caffeine; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry; D008900:Mineral Waters; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D013662:Tea; D002110:Caffeine; D005459:Fluorides