[Effect of sodium fluoride on DNA metabolism during therapy for osteoporosis]

The influence of sodium fluoride therapy on semiconservative DNA-synthesis and DNA-excision repair was investigated in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood of 6 patients with osteoporosis. The daily dose of sodium fluoride was 25 mg in the first week, and subsequent 50 mg during a period of 15 to 37 weeks. No significant effect on the tested parameters was found in 5 subjects. One patient showed significantly inhibited DNA-repair in the lymphocytes up to the ninth week, but during subsequent therapy normal values were obtained in this patient also. In conclusion sodium fluoride seems to have no effect on DNA-metabolism in lymphocytes of patients with osteoporosis.