FLUORINE INTAKE OF A TIBETAN POPULATION

Measurement of food consumption of randomly selected families and fluo rine levels in food and beverages were used to calculate the fluorine intake of Tibetan people living in nomadic or semi-nomadic areas of th e region and regularly consuming brick tea both as a beverage and in f ood. The fluorine intake of these groups (children 5.49-7.62 mg/day; a dults 10.43-14.48 mg/day) was much higher than that of members of a Ha n population living in the region (children 1.44 mg/day; adults 2.54 m g/day). The amounts of fluorine consumed by the Tibetan inhabitants ar e at least twice the WHO suggested limit (2 mg/day). Tea plants are ri ch in fluorine, and the highest levels are found in older leaves which are used to make brick tea. We conclude that brick tea is the major s ource of fluorine intake by the Tibetan population studied. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.