Use of Sodium Fluoride in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Abstract

Human osteoporosis, a state of reduced bone mass as defined radiologically, has been treated with sodium fluoride. The metabolic balance studies have indicated that a modest calcium retention occurred following fluoride therapy. Radiological studies have shown that the initiation of skeletal fluorosis after 1 yr or more of fluoride feeding in high doses was manifested by an increase in bone density in a somewhat coarse and irregular distribution in 4 patients. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that fluoride induced crystal growth and perfection. Bone histological studies have elucidated some of the effects of fluoride on bone surface remodeling dynamics, histochemical composition and cell metabolism. The clinical significance of fluoride therapy, however, remains unestablished.