ANABOLIC EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE ON BONE

Fluoride exerts a biphasic action at the level of osteoblasts, on bone mineral, on bone structure and function, and in the treatment of oste oporosis. At low circulating concentrations, skeletal uptake of fluori de is limited and the effects ave beneficial. Ar higher concentrations and greater skeletal uptake, fluoride may cause the formation of abno rmally mineralized bone of impaired quality. A new treatment program e ntailing intermittent slow release sodium fluoride (SR-NaF) with conti nuous calcium citrate may capture desirable qualities of fluoride with out toxic effects, and be therapeutically efficacious in postmenopausa l osteoporosis.