Fluoride Facts

The skeletal system consists of all the bones and joints in the body, with the main function to provide support, protection, and motility. Purported effects from fluoride include bone cancer (osteosarcoma) and bone fracture (skeletal fluorosis).

From the CDC’s Health Effects of Ingested Fluoride meta-analysis, there were two types of studies evaluated. The first type involved clinical trials that were attempting to find the effectiveness of high concentrations of fluoride supplements in strengthening bones and preventing further fractures due to osteoporosis. These trials were conducted for over 30 years in Europe, and it was eventually found that there was no substantial association between the high concentration fluoride supplements and bone strength.

The other type consisted of 6 epidemiological investigations that compared rate of bone fracture in elderly populations that differed in their exposure to natural or added fluoride in drinking water. The used geographic and time trend analyses as a tool to calculate this, and 4 of the investigations concluded a weak association between fluoridated water and and risk of hip fracture. The 2 other studies examined time trends in bone fracture before and after water fluoridation, with one finding no association and the other finding a negative association.

The CDC subcommittee concluded that majority of the evidence indicates that bone strength is not adversely affected in animals that are fed a nutritionally adequate diet unless long-term ingestion at concentrations of at least 50 mg/l of drinking water