Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
Effect of tamarind ingestion on fluoride excretion in humans
A L Khandare1, G S Rao, N Lakshmaiah
1National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India. alkhandare@yahoo.com
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of tamarind (Tamarindus indicus) ingestion on excretion of fluoride in school children.
Design:
Randomized, diet-control study.
Subject:
Twenty healthy boys were included and 18 of them completed the study.
Interventions:
Each subject consumed 10 g tamarind daily with lunch for 18 days at the social welfare boys' hostel. The nutrient composition of the daily diet was constant throughout the experimental period.
Results:
Tamarind intake led to significant increase (P<0.001) in the excretion of fluoride in 24 h urine (4.8+/-0.22 mg/day) as compared to excretion on control diet (3.5+/-0.22 mg/day). However, excretion of magnesium and zinc decreased significantly (7.11+/-1.48 mg of Mg and 252.88+/-12.84 microg of Zn per day on tamarind diet as compared to 23.39+/-3.68 mg of Mg and 331.78+/-35.31 microg Zn per day on control diet). Excretion of calcium and phosphorous were not significantly different while creatinine excretion decreased with tamarind intake (225.66+/-81 mg creatinine/day with tamarind and 294.5+/-78.76 mg creatinine/day without tamarind).
Conclusion:
Tamarind intake is likely to help in delaying progression of fluorosis by enhancing urinary excretion of fluoride.
Related Concept Videos
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Tubular Reabsorption
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions
Renal Failure: Dose Adjustments
Reduced renal clearance and elimination rate are common outcomes of renal impairment. These alterations lead to a prolonged elimination half-life and an altered apparent volume of distribution for drugs. As a result, dosage adjustments are typically necessary to maintain optimal drug levels in the body.
However, dosage adjustments...
