[A study on the value of vitamin C in treating skeletal fluorosis]

Three hundred and sixteen patients diagnosed as skeletal fluorosis roentgenologically and having no other diseases were divided randomly into 2 groups, matchable in sex distribution, age, functional state and X-ray findings. In the treated group every patient took 200mg vitamin C twice a day, while in the control group placebo tablets. The duration of treatment was 3 months. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by measuring the joint angle and power of gripping and studying the X-ray film and electromyogram. 38 kinds of biochemical parameters were measured simultaneously with a MCA-3 autobiochemical analyser. The results were as follows, (1) The total effective rate in the treated group was 12.84%, chi 2 = 0.556, P > 0.05, so there is no obvious effect in treating skeletal fluorosis with vitamin C. (2) The electromyogram in the treated group showed a recovering rate of 20.00%, chi 2 = 5.9, P > 0.01. It is further shown that there is no effect in treating skeletal fluorosis with vitamin C. (3) 38 kinds of biochemical parameters measured simultaneously and the X-ray findings also showed that vitamin C is not effective. Thus the validity of using vitamin C as the drug of first choice to treat skeletal fluorosis is to be queried.