Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
08:12
Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
Studies on fluoride distribution in infants and small children
Scandinavian Journal of Dental Research
|May 1, 1976
Summary
Fluoride (F) levels in children's tissues correlate with intake, with higher water F increasing concentrations. Bone development markers show mixed responses to fluoride exposure in infants and handicapped children.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Fluoride intake varies significantly during early development.
- Understanding fluoride distribution in hard tissues and plasma is crucial for assessing exposure.
- Skeletal development can be influenced by fluoride and may affect its retention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine fluoride concentrations in hard tissues and blood plasma across different age groups and varying fluoride intakes.
- To investigate the relationship between fluoride intake, tissue fluoride levels, and bone development markers.
- To examine fluoride retention in physically handicapped children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fluoride concentrations in biopsy and autopsy specimens (bone, teeth, blood plasma) from fetuses, infants, and children.
- Correlational analysis of fluoride levels across different tissues.
- Investigation of plasma fluoride and alkaline phosphatase activity in infants with controlled fluoride intake.
- Measurement of urinary fluoride excretion in physically handicapped children and controls.
Main Results:
- Fluoride concentrations in bone and dentin were similar, lower in enamel. Positive correlations were observed between fluoride levels in different tissues, strongest between enamel and dentin.
- Higher water fluoride intake significantly increased tissue fluoride concentrations.
- Infants with the highest fluoride intake had higher plasma fluoride levels and significantly higher alkaline phosphatase compared to the lowest fluoride group.
- Severely physically handicapped children exhibited higher urinary fluoride excretion than controls.
Conclusions:
- Fluoride intake is a primary determinant of tissue fluoride levels in children.
- While fluoride increases in tissues with higher intake, its impact on bone development markers like alkaline phosphatase is complex.
- Skeletal development disturbances may influence fluoride retention and excretion patterns.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Minerals
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...