The availability of fluoride from NaF and phosphorus supplements

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Fluoride Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Fluoride is essential for skeletal health but toxic in excess.
• Phosphate supplements are common sources of fluoride in animal diets.
• Understanding fluoride bioavailability from different phosphate sources is crucial for animal health and nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the fluoride (F) availability from dicalcium phosphate (DCP), defluorinated phosphate (DFP), and raw rock phosphate (RRP).
• To evaluate fluoride retention and digestibility in various animal models.
• To establish relative fluoride bioavailability against sodium fluoride (NaF).

Main Methods:

• Feeding diets with 50-55 ppm F from different phosphate sources to lambs and rats.
• Determining skeletal fluoride retention in lambs and rats.
• Conducting a 4x4 Latin Square experiment with goats to assess fluoride digestibility.

Main Results:

• Relative fluoride availability compared to NaF was approximately 50% for DCP, 20% for DFP, and 65% for RRP based on skeletal retention.
• Fluoride digestibility in goats was 38% for DCP, 34% for DFP, 65% for RRP, and 75% for NaF.
• Significant differences in fluoride bioavailability were observed among the tested phosphate sources.

Conclusions:

• Fluoride bioavailability varies considerably depending on the phosphate source.
• Dicalcium phosphate and raw rock phosphate offer higher fluoride availability than defluorinated phosphate.
• These findings are important for formulating animal diets to optimize fluoride intake and prevent toxicity.