Distribution of Fluoride with Age in Human Bone

Abstract

There is little information about the pattern of fluoride distribution in human bones relative to sex and age. The present study is the first of its kind to be undertaken to determine in detail the fluoride distribution profile in human bone.
Human ribs were obtained from 119 patients (M: 72, F: 47) aged 20 to 93 yrs. The fluoride distribution from the periosteal to the endosteal was determined in each specimen using the abrasive micro-sampling technique. Fluoride was determined using the fluoride electrode as previously described by Hallsworth, Weatherell and Deutsch (1976), and phosphorus was determined by the colorimetric procedure of Chen, Toribara and Warner (1956).
The concentration of fluoride was highest in the periosteal layer and then decreased gradually towards the interior of the tissue. The amount of fluoride leveled off and then rose again just before the endosteal surface. The difference between periosteal and endosteal fluoride increased with age. Overall, fluoride concentrations increased steadily with age in male subjects but leveled off until the age of 55 yrs and then increased markedly in female subjects over the age of 55 yrs.