THE FRAGILE NATURE OF SCIENTIFICALLY ACQU IRED DATA - THE EXAMPLE OF FLUORIDE SALTS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

Although there is a pathophysiological rationale for the use of sodium fluoride for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and a long history of clinical trials, there is no evidence today of its clinical efficacy. The use of sodium fluoride was a long-standing practice for many years which became official policy when strong scientific argume nts suggested its efficacy. The lack of methodologically solid evidenc e however raised some doubts, echoed by the regulatory authorities, an d led to a re-evaluation. The unacceptable risk/benefit ratio demonstr ated by the new results was a major scientific event giving the scient ific community a concrete example of why evidence provided by clinical research must be regularly revisited. (C) 1998, Masson, Paris.