October 24, 2011

Studies have linked geographical variations in dental health and tooth loss to sun exposure.

Dental caries has been shown to be inversely related to mean hours of sunlight per year, with people living in the sunny west having half as many cavities as those in the much less sunny northeast.  As reported by the Vitamin D Council:

“There were also several studies reported on vitamin D and dental caries in the 1920s and 1930s.  May Mellanby and coworkers in Sheffield, England, did studies on the role of vitamin D on teeth in the 1920s.

The first experiments were with dogs, where it was found that vitamin D stimulated the calcification of teeth.  Subsequently, they studied the effect of vitamin D on dental caries in children, finding a beneficial effect.

Additional studies were conducted on children in New York regarding dental caries with respect to season, artificial ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiance, and oral intake of vitamin D with the finding that it took 800 IU/day to prevent caries effectively.”

Two proposed mechanisms causing this beneficial effect include:

• Vitamin D beneficially affects calcium metabolism, and
• Vitamin D, which is produced in your body in response to sunlight exposure, induces cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide, which attacks oral bacteria linked to dental caries

According to the Vitamin D Council:

“Use of vitamin D appears to be a better option for reducing dental caries than fluoridation of community water supplies, as there are many additional health benefits of vitamin D and a number of adverse effects of water fluoridation such as fluorosis (mottling) of teeth and bones. … Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations around 30-40 ng/ml (75-100 nmoI/L) should significantly reduce the formation of dental caries. (The average white American has a level near 25 ng/ml, while the average black American has a level near 16 ng/ml.)”

Oral Health, Heart Disease, and Vitamin D

As you probably know, many public water supplies around the US are fluoridated, allegedly to help prevent dental caries.  However, there’s overwhelming evidence showing that ingesting fluoride is NOT the way to protect your teeth.  On the contrary, fluoride is a potent toxin, and over 40 percent of American children and teens are showing signs of fluoride overexposure in the form of dental fluorosis—unsightly yellow or brown spots or mottling on their teeth.

Fluoride consumption has also been linked to a long list of other health problems.

The idea that vitamin D may help protect against cavities is very interesting, and actually makes loads of sense since we already know it is necessary for bone health.  Vitamin D also upregulates a specific gene that produces over 200 anti-microbial peptides, some of which work like broad-spectrum antibiotics, including cathelicidin that attacks oral bacteria.

It’s also interesting to note the connections between oral health, heart health, and vitamin D status.

For example, gum disease increases your risk of several other serious diseases, including, pneumonia, lung disease, diabetes and stroke—and vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to an increased risk of all these conditions!  This is a beautiful illustration of the interdependency between seemingly disparate systems within your body.

Sun Exposure May Be Essential for Heart Health

The link between gum disease and heart disease may not be obvious, but chronic inflammation is a hallmark of both conditions and inflammation in your body plays a major role in the build-up of plaque in your arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.  And vitamin D helps combat inflammation, as just mentioned.

Furthermore, according to research by Dr. Stephanie Seneff, the vitamin D produced in your skin in response to sun exposure will impact your sulfur status, which may also play a crucial role in heart disease, so there are many interrelated factors affecting each other, thereby raising or lowering your risk of a number of health problems.

So what does sun exposure have to do with heart health?

Your heart requires cholesterol sulfate for optimal function.  When you are deficient in cholesterol sulfate (due to a lack of cholesterol in your body), your body tries to protect your heart by creating arterial plaque, because the platelets produce cholesterol sulfate in the plaque.  Dr. Seneff believes that the mechanism we call “cardiovascular disease,” of which arterial plaque is a hallmark, is actually your body’s way to compensate for not having enough cholesterol sulfate.

Now, when you expose your skin to sunshine, your skin synthesizes vitamin D3 sulfate, which is a water soluble form of sulfur that can travel freely in your blood stream, making it readily available.

Oral vitamin D3, on the other hand, is unsulfated, and this form needs LDL (the so-called “bad” cholesterol) as a vehicle of transport.  Her suspicion is that the simple oral non-sulfated form of vitamin D may not provide as much of the same heart-healthy benefits as the vitamin D created in your skin from sun exposure, because it cannot be converted to vitamin D sulfate, and therefore will not improve your sulfur status.  This is yet another reason to really make a concerted effort to get ALL your vitamin D requirements from exposure to sunshine!

Your Vitamin D Level is Directly Related to Your Risk of Heart Disease

But that’s not all.  Dr. Carlos Camargo of Harvard University recently wrote an editorial about the growing number of studies that link low vitamin D levels to heart attack, heart failure, hypertension and diabetes.  One recent study found that every 10 ng/ml lower blood vitamin D concentration resulted in a nine percent greater risk of death, and a 25 percent greater risk of heart attack.

As noted in Dr. Camargo’s editorial, credit is due to the first man to discover the connection, an epidemiologist in New Zealand by the name of Professor Robert Scragg, who first noticed the association in 1981.  His population-based case-control study found a strong inverse association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in the blood and risk for heart attack.

As reported by the Vitamin D Council, there are currently two large, population-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials on the health effects of vitamin D supplements underway.  One is at Harvard, which is looking at cancer and heart disease.  The other is being done in New Zealand, and is focused on heart disease, infection and fractures.  Unfortunately, the results from these studies are not expected to be available until 2017.  Six years is a long time to sit around and wait for the results from these studies.  I strongly encourage you NOT to wait and see.  The evidence that optimal vitamin D levels are necessary for general health and disease prevention is overwhelming.

Vitamin D and Cancer

Two grassroots organizations are now focusing on vitamin D as a preventive measure for cancer.  There are already over 800 studies supporting the theory that vitamin D may prevent a large percentage of several types of cancer, and I’m very pleased to see that this information is starting to gain foothold.

Vitamin D has a protective effect against cancer in several ways, including:

• Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer)
• Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells
• Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentiation)
• Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous

The Vitamin D Council, a nonprofit education corporation based in California, recently launched their “Vitamin D and Cancer” campaign, presenting 20 detailed summaries of the evidence.  The summaries were prepared by epidemiologist Dr. William Grant, founder of the nonprofit organization, Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC).  He also serves as the Science Director for the Vitamin D Council.  I highly recommend reviewing these summaries, which can be found here.  (Just select the type of cancer you want to review from the listing on the left.)

According to the Vitamin D Council:

“Some researchers believe the link between vitamin D sufficiency and a decreased risk in cancer is promising.  A randomized controlled trial found a 77 percent reduction in all-cancer incidence when the study group supplemented with 1,100 IU/day of vitamin D plus 1,450 mg/day calcium.  Says Dr. Grant, “Based on various studies of UVB, vitamin D and cancer to date, it appears that global cancer burden can be reduced by 15-25 percent if everyone had vitamin D blood levels above 40 ng/ml.”

Some of the facts presented in these summaries include:

1. Geographical studies have found reduced risk in mortality rates for 20 types of cancer in regions of higher solar UVB doses.
2. Observational studies have found that the risk of breast, colon, and rectal cancer fall as vitamin D blood levels rise at least up to 40ng/mL (100nml/L).
3. Those with higher vitamin D blood levels at time of cancer diagnosis have nearly twice the survival rate of those with the lowest levels.
4. Higher UVB exposure early in life is associated with reduced risk of breast and prostate cancer.

World’s First Breast Cancer Prevention Study Underway!

In addition to the Vitamin D Council’s educational campaign, Grassroots Health is now in the process of initiating the world’s first breast cancer prevention project and study, to investigate and evaluate vitamin D as a preventive strategy for breast cancer.

“We are looking now for some really serious funding to support that as a major research project,” says Carole Baggerly, director and founder of Grassroots Health.

If you would like to sign up as a participant in this groundbreaking study, or make a donation to support this project, you can do so here. This project is only for women who are:

1. 60 years of age and older
2. have no current cancer
3. are not currently being treated for cancer

Help Promote Public Health By Participating in the D*Action Study

You can also become a participant in the still ongoing Grassroots Health D*Action study, which is evaluating vitamin D’s impact on your overall health status.  When you join D*action, you agree to test your vitamin D levels twice a year during a five year program, and share your health status to demonstrate the public health of this nutrient.  There is a $60 free each 6 months ($120/year) for your sponsorship of the project, which includes a complete new test kit to be used at home, and electronic reports on your ongoing progress.

You will get a follow up email every six months reminding you “it’s time for your next test and health survey.”  To join now, please follow this link to the sign up form.

Make Sure You’re NEVER Deficient in Vitamin D if You are Critically Ill

Dr. Paul Lee of the University of Queensland in Australia believes that people all over the world are needlessly dying because they have vitamin D deficiency.  He believes severe immune dysfunction, bone hyper-resorption, blood poisoning, and hyper-inflammation in critically ill patients could all be resolved with sufficient vitamin D.  He notes that the stress of surgery uses up tremendous amounts of vitamin D, and cites studies showing that death in the ICU and the CCU is two to three times higher for the vitamin D deficient.

According to Dr. Lee:

“Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent and has been associated with a diverse range of chronic medical conditions in the general population. In contrast, the prevalence, pathogenesis and significance of vitamin D deficiency have received little attention in acute medicine. Vitamin D deficiency is seldom considered and rarely corrected adequately, if at all, in critically ill patients.

Recent recognition of the extra-skeletal, pleiotropic actions of vitamin D in immunity, epithelial function and metabolic regulation may underlie the previously under-recognized contribution of vitamin D deficiency to typical co-morbidities in critically ill patients, including sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and metabolic dysfunction. Improved understanding of vitamin D metabolism and regulation in critical illness may allow therapeutic exploitation of vitamin D to improve outcome in critically ill patients.”

This echoes previous findings that your vitamin D status is critical for overall health, prevention of disease, and for successful recuperation—whether you’re recuperating from a case of the flu, from surgery, or even cancer treatment.

The Best Source of Vitamin D

Exposing your skin to sunlight is the best way to get vitamin D as this will also produce vitamin D3 sulfate, which I discussed earlier.  As a general guideline, getting about 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure a day, with at least 40 percent of your skin exposed, will boost the vitamin levels above 40 ng/ml in many.  However, this is highly variable and dependent on a number of factors, including your skin color, location and altitude, for example.  If you’re able to get out in the sun for an adequate time period each day, your vitamin D levels should be naturally optimized.

If you can’t get enough sun exposure during certain parts of the year, I advise using a safe tanning bed to allow your body to produce vitamin D naturally. Safe tanning beds have electronic ballasts and produce less UVA than sunshine.

A third option is taking a high-quality vitamin D supplement. The most important thing to keep in mind if you opt for oral supplementation is to use natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) only. Do not use the synthetic and highly inferior vitamin D2.  Unless you get a deep dark tan, it is wise to get your blood levels checked as that is the only way to know for certain you have reached therapeutic levels. To determine the appropriate dose, you need to get your vitamin D levels tested. Ideally, you’ll want to be between 50-70 ng/ml. Based on recent research published by Grassroots Health from the D*Action study, the average adult needs to take 8,000 IU’s of vitamin D per day in order to elevate their levels above 40 ng/ml, which they believe is the bare minimum for disease prevention.

Article from www.Mercola.com

www.Mercola.com

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland located between the two hemispheres of your brain.  It is sometimes called the “third eye” due to its resemblance to the human retina.  While your pineal gland is only about the size of a single grain of rice (5-8mm), it performs several functions that are extremely important to your body.

One main role of your pineal gland is to produce melatonin, the natural sleep hormone that plays a vital role in your normal sleep function.  Melatonin is not only necessary for proper sleep however, it also regulates the onset of puberty and fights against harmful free radicals.  When your pineal gland function is suppressed, melatonin production suffers and you are putting yourself at risk for a number of startling conditions including:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Circadian dysregulation
• Insomnia
• Bipolar disease
• Hormone imbalances: low melatonin
• Low back pain

When Your Pineal Gland Stress Leads, Disease Follows

Any form of pineal gland stress is concerning due to its integral role in your body, which has been studied for thousands of years. In the third century, a prominent Roman physician named Galen described the pineal gland as the “seat of the soul.”

This term was referenced once more by the prominent philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650), who went on to write about the pineal gland in depth. Adding to Galen’s thoughts on the gland, Descartes stated:

“My view is that this gland is the principal seat of the soul, and the place in which all our thoughts are formed.”

One form of pineal gland stress is known as pineal gland calcification — the cause of which may be shocking to you. Sodium fluoride, present in your drinking water and certain store-bought products, and other sources such as Prozac (fluoxetine), fluoroquinolone antibiotics and non-stick cookware could all be contributing to the alarming increase in pineal gland calcification.

I have been warning you about the toxic effects of fluoride for years, and during this time more and more scientists have begun to recognize the dangers. There are so many studies highlighting the toxic effects of fluoride on your body, particularly affecting brain function, yet remarkably, a majority of the tap water in the United States, as well as a few other countries, is still heavily fluoridated.

The connection between pineal gland calcification and fluoride intake may very well be one of the most vital pieces of information in the fight against water fluoridation. You see, up until the 1990′s, no research had ever been conducted on the impact of fluoride on the pineal gland. However, we now have major universities discovering that your pineal gland is a primary target of fluoride accumulation in your body.

Research Confirms Pineal Gland as a Major Fluoride Collector

Thanks to research first conducted by the University of Surrey in England in 1997, it is now known that the soft tissue of the adult pineal gland contains more fluoride than any other soft tissue in your body. In fact, the levels of pineal gland fluoride examined in the study were high enough to inhibit enzymes.

When your enzymes are damaged, it can lead to collagen breakdown, eczema, tissue damage, skin wrinkling, genetic damage, and immune suppression. It can also cause problems with your:

• Immune system
• Digestive system
• Respiratory system
• Blood circulation
• Kidney function

Pineal gland fluoride levels were measured at ~330 parts per million (ppm). The EPA currently sets the maximum allowed level of sodium fluoride in the drinking water at 4 ppm. This is nothing compared to the amount of fluoride found to be stored in the harder tissues of your pineal gland known as hyroxyapatite crystals. Fluoride levels observed in the hard tissue were found to be as high as 21,000 ppm. Hyroxyapatite crystals store more fluoride than any other hard tissue in your body, including teeth and bone.

After researchers concluded that the pineal gland was a major target for extreme fluoride accumulation in your body, they decided to conduct a series of experiments to determine if it was enough to impact the functioning of the gland, particularly melatonin production. Dr. Jennifer Luke from the University of Surrey in England led the researchers in performing the study.

The results were surprising even to the scientists on the research team. Animals treated with fluoride not only had lower levels of melatonin as expected, but female animals experienced an early onset of puberty. Due to the interference of melatonin production in the animals in response to the fluoride treatment, the hormonal triggers that are responsible for puberty were disturbed.

Dr. Luke summarized the findings:

“In conclusion, the human pineal gland contains the highest concentration of fluoride in the body. Fluoride is associated with depressed pineal melatonin synthesis by prepubertal gerbils and an accelerated onset of sexual maturation in the female gerbil. The results strengthen the hypothesis that the pineal has a role in the timing of the onset of puberty.”

The Early Puberty Connection

U.S. girls are reaching puberty at younger ages than ever before. In the 1990s, breast development — the first sign of puberty in girls — at age eight was considered an abnormal event that should be investigated by an endocrinologist. However, by 1999, following a 1997 study that found almost half of African Americans and 15 percent of whites had begun breast development by age eight, the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society suggested changing what is viewed as “normal.”

Could pineal gland calcification be the cause of early puberty in young girls?

As mentioned earlier, the major study performed by the University of Surrey in England says absolutely YES. The connection between gland calcification and an early onset of puberty was even mentioned as a main point in the study’s summary by Dr. Luke.

It is important to remember that the groundbreaking study was conducted in 1997, before the 1999 research that brought to light the epidemic of early puberty. We have known all of this time about the correlation between fluoride exposure and early puberty, yet there has been little coverage of the subject!

The Explosion of Information on Pineal Gland Toxicity

Following the initial breakthroughs on the link between fluoride and pineal gland calcification, scientists began to examine the issue more closely. In 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) released its report: “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards.”

The NRC began working on the report in 2003 as requested by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to review the latest research on fluoride toxicity and assess the EPA’s current safe drinking water standards for fluoride. In 2006, the report was released with a summary that backed up the work of Dr. Luke and her research team who conducted the first experiment on the role fluoride plays in pineal gland calcification back in 1997. The summary was printed in the National Academies Press, Washington D.C. P221-22:

“The single animal study of pineal function indicates that fluoride exposure results in altered melatonin production and altered timing of sexual maturity… Recent information on the role of the pineal organ in humans suggests that any agent that affects pineal function could affect human health in a variety of ways, including effects on sexual maturation, calcium metabolism, parathyroid function, postmenopausal osteoporosis, cancer, and psychiatric disease.”

Mainstream Medical Community Still in the Dark about Fluoride

There are so many scientific studies showing the direct, toxic effects of fluoride on your body, it’s truly remarkable that it’s NOT considered a scientific consensus by now. It truly amazes me that the medical (and dental) communities are so stubbornly resistant to connect the dots when it comes to the skyrocketing increase of cognitive decline in adults (Alzheimer’s and various dementia’s), and behavioral issues in children (ADD, ADHD, depression and learning disabilities of all kinds).

In fact, there have been over 23 human studies and 100 animal studies linking fluoride to brain damage. This includes such effects as:

What is perhaps most surprising is that the harmful effects of fluoride have been known about by conventional medical organizations for over half a century. The Journal of the American Medical Association also stated in their September 18, 1943 issue that fluorides are general protoplasmic poisons that change the permeability of the cell membrane by certain enzymes.

And, an editorial published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, October 1, 1944, stated:

“Drinking water containing as little as 1.2 ppm fluoride will cause developmental disturbances. We cannot run the risk of producing such serious systemic disturbances. The potentialities for harm outweigh those for good.”

Yet, this element, or as some may call it, this caustic industrial chemical, is deliberately added to about two-thirds of U.S. public water supplies. Now that it has been established that fluoride is extremely toxic to the health of you and your family, what can be done to prevent exposure?

Limiting Exposure to Toxic Fluoride and Other Substances

As mentioned, fluoride currently contaminates nearly 70 percent of the U.S. public water supplies. Therefore, it is an extreme challenge to limit your exposure even inside the safety of your own home. For people living in areas with fluoridated tap water, fluoride is a part of every glass of water, every bath and shower, and every meal cooked using that water.

Fluoride is not the only toxic substance in your tap water, however.

While chlorine is right at the heart of this matter, there is an even larger threat to your health. It is important to understand that when chlorine interacts with organic matter found in your water, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) form. And these DBPs are far more toxic than the chlorine itself. In fact, DBPs are responsible for the vast majority of the toxic effects of chlorinated water… toxic effects that can potentially lead to…

• Increased cancer, asthma, and skin irritation risks
• Respiratory irritation and fatigue
• Weakening of your immune system

The problem is that a hot steamy shower:

• Triggers your skin pores to open, which in turn…
• Spikes a high absorption rate of chlorine and other chemicals directly into your system and…
• Helps create a ‘free pass’ of foreign chemicals into your body fluids and bloodstream – unlike drinking tap water where your digestive processes at least get a chance to filter out some of the harmful contaminants.

Article from www.Mercola.com

Routinely prescribed to children in non-water-fluoridated communities, sometimes even in fluoridated areas, sodium fluoride drops, lozenges and “vitamins” are meant to reduce tooth decay.

Before testing was required, sodium fluoride ingestion slipped into common usage without FDA approval.  Now, the FDA is cracking down on unapproved drugs such as sodium fluoride. (1)

The following warning – “Note: This Drug Has Not Been Found by FDA to be Safe and Effective” – is newly included with sodium fluoride drug information meant for ingestion. (2)

Fluoride supplements deliver no benefits to primary teeth but increase dental fluorosis risk – white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth, according to a 2008 <I style=”mso-bidi-font-style:normal”>Journal of the American Dental Association systematic review. (3)

In fact, “In non-fluoridated communities, the use of fluoride supplements during the first 6 years of life is associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing dental fluorosis,” concludes a meta-analysis in <I style=”mso-bidi-font-style: normal”>Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (2/99). (4)

“It is therefore concluded that the risk of using supplements in infants and young children outweigh the benefits… fluoride supplements should no longer be used for young children in North America,” writes Burt (FAll 1999 Journal of Public Health Dentistry” (5)

Further, Belgium stopped selling fluoride supplements in 2002 because documentation revealed that fluoride can cause physical and neurological harm with little evidence of decay reduction. (6)

According to the NLM, fluoride’s side effect could include: (7)

• staining of teeth
• unusual increase in saliva
• salty or soapy taste
• stomach pain
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash
• weakness
• tremor
• seizures

The FDA asks that fluoride drug side effects, including dental fluorosis, be reported at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or [1-800-332-1088].

Freedom of choice governs fluoride supplements but not water fluoridation.  Even in small doses injected into drinking water supplies, fluoride can have serious side effects especially to the brain, thyroid, kidney patients and babies. (8a,b,c,d).

“We urge parents to deeply research fluoride supplements and fluoride varnish before dosing their children,” says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President.

“We also urge everyone to contact their legislators and do what it takes to stop the unnecessary force-feeding of fluoride chemicals into their bodies via the public water supplies,” says Beeber.

New York City Council Members have introduced such legislation.  ”NYC residents must show their support by contacting their Council member to support this bill,” says Beeber.  For more info: http://tinyurl.com/NYCfluoridation

How Fluoride Supplements Came to be Used

The first human-health fluoride experiment began in 1945 when sodium fluoride was poured into Newburgh, NY’s, water supply to learn if fluoride would harm children.

Pre-schoolers, adults and sick children were excluded from examination. Even with this research flaw, after ten years, Newburgh’s school-children had more anemia, cortical bone defects and early puberty than never-fluoridated nearby Kingston, NY. (9)  Brain, thyroid effects and cancer rates weren’t considered.

Despite these failures, officials prematurely claimed the Kingston/Newburgh study proved water fluoridation was safe and, therefore, assumed fluoride supplements were safe also.

Contact: Paul Beeber, JD, 516-433-8882 nyscof@aol.com

http://www.fluoridation.webs.com/

http://www.FluorideAction.Net

SOURCE: NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

References:

1) “Guidance for FDA Staff and Industry Marketed Unapproved Drugs “

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) June 2006

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM070290.pdf

2) http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=20443

3) Fluoride supplements, dental caries and fluorosis: A systematic review J Am Dent Assoc November 1, 2008 139(11): 1457-1468
http://jada.ada.org/content/139/11/1457.full

4) Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1999 Feb, “Fluoride supplements and fluorosis: a meta-analysis,” Ismail and Badekar
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10086926

5) “The case for eliminating the use of dietary fluoride supplements
for young children,” Journal of Public Health Dentistry, Fall 1999, by
Burt http://tinyurl.com/2bnoff

6) http://www.fluoride-journal.com/02-35-3/353-212.pdf

7) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682727.html

8a) http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/brain/index.html

b) http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/index.html

c) http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/kidney/

d) http://www2.fluoridealert.org/Alert/United-States/New-York/Don-t-Feed-Babies-Fluoridated-Water-say-NYS-Health-Officials

9)    Newburgh-Kingston caries-fluorine study. XIII. Pediatric findings after ten years.
J Am Dent Assoc. 1956 Mar;52(3):296-306. SCHLESINGER ER, OVERTON DE, CHASE HC, CANTWELL KT

New York – June 21, 2011 — “The prolonged ingestion of fluoride may cause significant damage to health and particularly to the nervous system,” concludes a review of studies by researchers Valdez-Jimenez, et al. published in Neurologia (June 2011). reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF).

The research team reports, “It is important to be aware of this serious problem and avoid the use of toothpaste and items that contain fluoride, particularly in children as they are more susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride” (1)

“Fluoride can be toxic by ingesting one part per million (ppm), and the effects are not immediate, as they can take 20 years or more to become evident,” they write.

Most fluoridating US public drinking water suppliers add fluoride chemicals to deliver 1 pm fluoride (equal to about 1 milligram per quart) intending to benefit teeth and not to purify the water.

“Fluoridation clearly jeopardizes our children and must be stopped,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.  ”We can actually see how fluoride has damaged children’s teeth with dental fluorosis; but we can’t see the harm it’s doing to their brains and other organs.  No US researcher is even looking,” says Beeber.

Valdez-Jimineze, et al. describe studies that show fluoride induces changes in the brain’s physical structure and biochemistry which affects the neurological and mental development of individuals including cognitive processes, such as learning and memory.

“Fluoride is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, which may cause biochemical and functional changes in the nervous system during pregnancy, since the fluoride accumulates in brain tissue before birth,” they write.*

Animal studies show fluoride’s toxic brain effects include classic brain abnormalities found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Valdez-Jiminez’s team reports.

A different research team (Tang et al.) reported in 2008 that “A qualitative review of the studies found a consistent and strong association between the exposure to fluoride and low IQ.”  Biological Trace Element Research (2)

In 2006, the US National Research Council’s (NRC) expert fluoride panel reviewed fluoride toxicology and concluded, “It’s apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain.”  And, “Fluorides also increase the production of free radicals in the brain through several different biological pathways.  These changes have a bearing on the possibility that fluorides act to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.” (3)

On April 12, 2010, Time magazine listed fluoride as one of the “Top Ten Common Household Toxins” and described fluoride as both “neurotoxic and potentially tumorigenic if swallowed.” (4)

Phyllis Mullenix, PhD, was the first U.S. scientist to find evidence that fluoride damages the brain.  She published her animal study in a respected peer-reviewed scientific journal in 1995 (5) and then was fired for doing so. (6)

Vyvyan Howard, MD, PhD a prominent fetal toxicologist and past-President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment said that current brain/fluoride research convinces him that we should stop water fluoridation.

Very many communities have stopped or rejected fluoridation in the past several years — the most recent is Fairbanks, Alaska.  This year, seven New York City Council Members co-sponsored legislation to stop fluoridation in NYC.

*Translated from Spanish using Google Translation

Contact: Paul Beeber, JD, 516-433-8882 – nyscof@aol.com

http://www.FluorideAction.net

http://www.fluoridation.webs.com

SOURCE: NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

References:

1) <I style=”mso-bidi-font-style: normal”>Neurologia 2011 Jun;26(5):297-300. Epub 2011 Jan 20.

2) <I style=”mso-bidi-font-style: normal”>Biological Trace Elements Research “Fluoride and Children’s Intelligence: A Meta-analysis,” by Qin-qing Tang & Jun Du & Heng-hui Ma &

Shao-jun Jiang & Xiao-jun Zhou

http://www.ci.fairbanks.ak.us/documents/boardscommissions/fluoridetaskforce/referencematerials/reviews/20080718Fluoride%20and%20Children%27s%20Intelligence%20China.pdf

3) The National Academies of Science, Committee on Fluoride in
Drinking Water, National Research Council, “Fluoride in Drinking
Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards,” March 2006

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11571.html?onpi_newsdoc03222006

4) Time Magazine, “Top Ten Household Toxins,” Fluoride, by Alice Park

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1976909_1976895_1976898,00.html

5) Mullenix P, et al. (1995). “Neurotoxicity of Sodium Fluoride in
Rats,” Neurotoxicology and Teratology 17:169-177) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7760776

6) <I style=”mso-bidi-font-style: normal”>The Fluoride Deception
by Christopher Bryson CHAPTER 1: Through the Looking Glass http://www.fluoridealert.org/fluoride-deception2.htm

A new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association finds once again that, contrary to what most people have been told, fluoride is actually bad for teeth.

Exposure to high levels of fluoride results in a condition known as fluorosis, in which tooth enamel becomes discolored.  The condition can eventually lead to badly damaged teeth.  The new study found that fluoride intake during a child’s first few years of life is significantly associated with fluorosis, and warned against using fluoridated water in infant formula.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is of a similar opinion.  According to their website:

“Recent evidence suggests that mixing powdered or liquid infant formula concentrate with fluoridated water on a regular basis may increase the chance of a child developing… enamel fluorosis.”

Sources:

• Journal of the American Dental Association October 14, 2010; 141(10):1190-1201
• CDC May 28, 2010

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

It was 2007 when the American Dental Association (ADA) first warned that parents of infants younger than a year old “should consider using water that has no or low levels of fluoride” when mixing baby formula, due to concerns about fluorosis.

Now the Journal of the American Dental Association has published a study that found increased fluorosis risk among infants who were fed infant formula reconstituted with fluoride-containing water, as well as used fluoridated toothpastes.

The authors noted:

“Results suggest that prevalence of mild dental fluorosis could be reduced by avoiding ingestion of large quantities of fluoride from reconstituted powdered concentrate infant formula and fluoridated dentifrice.”

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also followed suit, warning on their Community Water Fluoridation page that mixing powdered or liquid infant formula concentrate with fluoridated water on a regular basis may increase the chance of a child developing enamel fluorosis.

They also state:

“In children younger than 8 years of age, combined fluoride exposure from all sources–water, food, toothpaste, mouth rinse, or other products–contributes to enamel fluorosis.”

This is as far as the CDC warnings go, however, and they continue to state that water fluoridation is safe — and dental fluorosis is only a “cosmetic” problem.  In reality, neither of these assertions is true.

Dental Fluorosis is a Sign of Excessive Fluoride Intake

Dental fluorosis results in white and brown spots on your teeth.  It is only caused by fluoride — typically due to ingesting too much fluoride during your developing years, from birth to about 8 years of age.  According to the CDC, about one-third of U.S. children aged 12 to 15 years have very mild forms of enamel fluorosis on their teeth.

Promoters of fluoridation say that these markings are “just cosmetic,” but it can also be an indication that the rest of your body, such as your bones and the rest of your organs, including your brain, has been exposed to too much fluoride also.

As Dr. Paul Connett, a chemist specializing in environmental chemistry, explained in our recent interview:

“We know that 32% of American children have been overexposed to fluoride because you have this telltale sign of dental fluorosis, which in its mildest form is little white specs.  But when it gets more serious, it affects more of the surface of your teeth and it becomes colored; yellow, brown and orange mottling of the teeth…

The teeth are the window to the bones.  If you’ve seen the damage to the teeth, what damage can you not see?”

In other words, if fluoride is having a detrimental, visual effect on the surface of your teeth, you can be virtually guaranteed that it’s also damaging something else inside your body, such as your bones.

Bone is living tissue that is constantly being replaced through cellular turnover.  Bone building is a finely balanced, complicated process.  Fluoride has been known to disrupt this process ever since the 1930s.

Why it’s Dangerous to Swallow Fluoride

The United States is one of only eight countries in the entire developed world that fluoridates more than 50% of its water supply.  It is added under the guise that it helps prevent and control tooth decay…

This is in spite of the fact that there never been any demonstrated difference in tooth decay between countries with fluoridated and non-fluoridated water, and no difference between states that have a high- or low percentage of their water fluoridated.

Even promoters of fluoridation concede that the major benefits are topical; fluoride works from the outside of the tooth, not from inside of your body, so why swallow it?

The fluoride added to your drinking water is in fact a chemical waste product!  It is NOT something you should use as a supplement to your diet.

There are plenty of studies showing the dangers of fluoride to your health, such as:

• Increases lead absorption
• Disrupts synthesis of collagen
• Hyperactivity and/or lethargy
• Muscle disorders
• Brain damage, and lowered IQ
• Arthritis
• Dementia
• Bone fractures
• Lowers thyroid function
• Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
• Inactivates 62 enzymes
• Inhibits formation of antibodies
• Genetic damage and cell death
• Increases tumor and cancer rate
• Disrupts immune system
• Damages sperm and increases infertility

As far as tooth decay is concerned, this is not caused by lack of fluoride.

Tooth decay is caused by acids in your mouth, typically created from sugar being metabolized by bacteria (Streptococcus mutans), and as you may already know, the number one source of calories in the United States if high fructose corn syrup.

The acid produced then attacks your enamel.  Eventually the bacteria can get into the dentine, at which point tooth decay sets in.  So there are far better options for decreasing tooth decay than using a topical or ingested poison, with a chief one being minimizing your intake of sugary foods and eating a healthful diet.

You typically don’t find dental caries in more primitive societies that do not consume vast amounts of sugar like in the United States.

Make Sure Your Children are Not Exposed to Fluoride

One of dentist Bill Osmunson’s main concerns is water fluoridation for infants.  The ADA and the CDC now both recommend that infants NOT receive fluoridated water for drinking, nor for making their formula, as fluoridated water contains 250 times more fluoride than mother’s milk.

“We shouldn’t fluoridate water and harm our most vulnerable,” Dr. Osmunson says.

It is my strong belief and recommendation to avoid giving your children fluoridated water.

Unfortunately, the only way to ensure your water is pure enough to drink is by installing a high quality water filtration system in your house, such as a reverse osmosis filter that can filter out much of the fluoride and other dangerous water contaminants like disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

Remember that most bottled water also typically contains fluoride, even though it’s not stated on the label, and whatever you do, avoid using “nursery water, which is fluoridated water sold specifically for infants.

Fluoride in your drinking water is one more reason why breastfeeding your infant is so essential.  Nature has kept breast milk virtually fluoride-free for a reason.

If you are unable to breastfeed and are instead using formula, make sure the water you use if fluoride-free.  Again, for now the best way you can provide pure, fluoride-free water to your family is by using a reverse osmosis filter, which you can install in your home.

Even better, if you are unable to breastfeed use this recipe to make homemade infant formula using raw milk and no water at all.

Keep in mind also that if you are a pregnant woman it is equally important for your water to be fluoride-free, as this chemical can harm your developing fetus.

The Ultimate Solution is to Get Fluoride Out of Tap Water

Even though the ADA and the CDC have issued warnings that parents not use fluoridated tap water to make infant formula, neither of them has openly informed the public!

So there are millions of parents out there using tap water to make up formula, oblivious of the fact that the agencies that promote fluoridation in this country have issued a specific warning against using fluoridated water for this purpose.

Not only that, but by fluoridating the municipal water supply you doom many low-income families to fail to protect their young children from this dangerous drug, even if they have this information, as they simply don’t have the resources to install a reverse osmosis system.

This is why the only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of water fluoridation in the United States.

The Fluoride Action Network is an absolutely phenomenal resource for further education, and they’re doing much to pressure the US government for change.  We will be working together to devise a complete game plan to tackle this issue head on.  Once we reach the tipping point, which may be as little as 5% of the population, we will be able to reverse the policies of water fluoridation.

Our strategy will begin with addressing Canada, because 60% of Canada is already un-fluoridated.  If we can get the rest of Canada to stop fluoridating their water, we believe the U.S. will be forced to follow.

You can visit www.FluorideAlert.org for the most recent updates and progress, as well as tips on how you can get involved and take action in this important cause.

In addition, I highly recommend getting a copy of Dr. Connett’s new book, The Case Against Fluoride, for more information on the bad science and political agendas that got this toxic chemical in our drinking water and is, at least for now, keeping it there.

Posted by Dr. Mercola on www.Mercola.com

Fluoride may have been added to the public water supply to protect your teeth–but believe it or not, research shows that increased intake of this compound could be having quite the opposite effect on your overall health.  In fact, a quick review of the research might leave you wondering if there’s any system in your body that isn’t susceptible to fluoride’s negative influence.

Take its effect on thyroid function, for starters.  Both animal and human studies have shown that fluoride can affect levels of thyroid hormones–including trioodothyronine (T3), free T3, thyroxine (T4) and free T4.  Further research has linked long-term fluoride exposure to immune imbalances, including reduced immune cell cooperation–especially among individuals who also have suboptimal thyroid function.

Bones are equally affected by fluoride’s effects, with studies showing that it can affect mineral metabolism and bone density, while contributing to poor cellular health and oxidative stress in osteoblasts (bone-building cells).  Fluoride exposure also may result in suboptimal heart health as research has linked increased fluoride intake to decreased arterial compliance and flexibility affecting cardiovascular health.  Finally, your pancreas, liver and kidneys can also be affected: Animal and human studies indicate that fluoride may affect glucose tolerance and insulin secretion from beta cells, promote free radical generation, and impact liver and kidney structure and functioning.

Animal research suggests that even fertility could be impacted thanks to fluoride, with exposure resulting in imbalances in sperm count, motility and density– and recent U.S. population studies have noted a similar association between fertility and fluoride levels in humans, as well.

Because fluoride is a member of the halogen family–which includes iodine, chlorine and bromine–it competes with these elements in the physiological function of certain organs, such as iodine-dependent breast and thyroid tissue.  The good news, however, is that taking simple steps to replenish your iodine stores with a high-quality daily supplements–such as VRP’s Iodoral®–may be enough to keep fluoride uptake and its potential negative effects at bay.

Be sure to pair your daily iodine supplement with ample amounts of riboflavin and niacin–both found in VRP’s ATP Cofactors–since both B vitamins play a critical role in iodine’s absorption into your cells, while supporting cellular energy production and encouraging fluoride excretion.

In addition to boosting your iodine stores, you should also optimize your intake of a number of essential and trace minerals, including sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc.  Chloride in particular can be a vital ally in your body’s efforts to deal with excess fluoride–and luckily, getting enough of it could be as easy as eating more salt.  But not just any salt.  Instead, look to VRPs Celtic Sea Salt–an all-natural form of salt, which promotes healthy mineralization of your body and offers support for healthy cellular function.

References:

1. Inkielewicz-Stepniak I, Czarnowski W. Oxidative stress parameters in rats exposed to fluoride and caffeine. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010 Jun;48(6):1607-11.

2. Morales-González JA, Gutiérrez-Salinas J, García-Ortiz L, et al. Effect of sodium fluoride ingestion on malondialdehyde concentration and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rat erythrocytes. Int J Mol Sci. 2010 Jun 11;11(6):2443-52.

3. Shivarajashankara YM, Shivashankara AR, Bhat PG, et al. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems in the blood of young rats subjected to chronic fluoride toxicity. Indian J Exp Biol. 2003 Aug;41(8):857-60.

4. Takahashi K, Akiniwa K, Narita K. Regression analysis of cancer incidence rates and water fluoride in the U.S.A. based on IACR/IARC (WHO) data (1978-1992). International Agency for Research on Cancer. J Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;11(4):170-9.

5. Wang H, Yang Z, Zhou B, et al. Fluoride-induced thyroid dysfunction in rats: roles of dietary protein and calcium level. Toxicol Ind Health. 2009 Feb;25(1):49-57.

6. Bachinskiĭ PP, Gutsalenko OA, Naryzhniuk ND, et al. Action of the body fluorine of healthy persons and thyroidopathy patients on the function of hypophyseal-thyroid the system. Probl Endokrinol (Mosk). 1985 Nov-Dec;31(6):25-9.

7. Balabolkin MI, Mikhaĭlets ND, Lobovskaia RN, et al. The interrelationship of the thyroid and immune statuses of workers with long-term fluorine exposure. Ter Arkh. 1995;67(1):41-2.

8. Krishnamachari KA. Skeletal fluorosis in humans: a review of recent progress in the understanding of the disease. Prog Food Nutr Sci. 1986;10(3-4):279-314.

9. Yan X, Yan X, Morrison A, et al. Fluoride induces apoptosis and alters collagen I expression in rat osteoblasts. Toxicol Lett. 2011 Feb 5;200(3):133-8.

10. Xu H, Wang CH, Zhao ZT, et al. Role of oxidative stress in osteoblasts exposed to sodium fluoride. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Summer;123(1-3):109-15.

11. Varol E, Akcay S, Ersoy IH, et al. Impact of chronic fluorosis on left ventricular diastolic and global functions. Sci Total Environ. 2010 May 1;408(11):2295-8.

12. Varol E, Akcay S, Ersoy IH, et al. Aortic elasticity is impaired in patients with endemic fluorosis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Feb;133(2):121-7.

13. García-Montalvo EA, Reyes-Pérez H, Del Razo LM. Fluoride exposure impairs glucose tolerance via decreased insulin expression and oxidative stress. Toxicology. 2009 Sep 19;263(2-3):75-83.

14. Menoyo I, Rigalli A, Puche RC. Effect of fluoride on the secretion of insulin in the rat. Arzneimittelforschung. 2005;55(8):455-60.

15. Chattopadhyay A, Podder S, Agarwal S, et al. Fluoride-induced histopathology and synthesis of stress protein in liver and kidney of mice. Arch Toxicol. 2010 Sep 22. Published Online Ahead of Print.

16. Itai K, Onoda T, Nohara M, et al. Serum ionic fluoride concentrations are related to renal function and menopause status but not to age in a Japanese general population. Clin Chim Acta. 2010 Feb;411(3-4):263-6.

17. Liu JL, Xia T, Yu YY, et al. The dose-effect relationship of water fluoride levels and renal damage in children. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2005 May;34(3):287-8.

18. Izquierdo-Vega JA, Sánchez-Gutiérrez M, Del Razo LM. Decreased in vitro fertility in male rats exposed to fluoride-induced oxidative stress damage and mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008 Aug 1;230(3):352-7.

19. Gupta RS, Khan TI, Agrawal D, et al. The toxic effects of sodium fluoride on the reproductive system of male rats. Toxicol Ind Health. 2007 Oct;23(9):507-13.

20. Freni SC. Exposure to high fluoride concentrations in drinking water is associated with decreased birth rates. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1994 May;42(1):109-21.

21. Abraham GE. The safe and effective implementation of orthoiodosupplementation in medical practice. The Original Internist. 2004;11(1):17-36.

Haines has found in the ARCPOH statistics that the permanent teeth of children in largely unfluoridated  (<5% before 2009) Queensland were erupting on average two years earlier than the children in the rest of Australia, which is largely fluoridated (see the figure below). A two-year delay would negate all the small reductions in tooth decay claimed by dental researchers since 1990. In other words fluoridation doesn’t work. Any difference in tooth decay claimed to be due to fluoride is simply an artefact of the delayed eruption caused by fluoride.

 
Source – Published and unpublished data from 2003- 2004 Australian Child Dental Health Surveys
( unpublished data obtained by Freedom of Information application)
 
According to Professor Paul Connett, director of the Fluoride Action Network, who is currently on a fluoride-tour of New Zealand, “Critics of fluoridation, like Dr. Hardy Limeback in Toronto, have long pointed out that any reduced tooth decay touted by promoters could easily be accounted for by the delayed eruption of the teeth. Even when this argument received strong experimental support from Komarek et al. in 2005, this has still has been ignored by those promoting fluoridation. But they cannot ignore it any longer: the figures of the dental department research team most associated with the promotion of fluoridation in Australia (and beyond) demonstrate that this delay is real.”
 
Less teeth erupted for any given age would mean less surfaces available for tooth decay to have taken place. A delayed eruption of one – two years would account for the small reductions claimed in ALL the US and Australian studies published since 1990 (Brunelle and Carlos, 1990; Slade et al., 1996; Spencer et al., 1996; Armfield et al., 2009; Armfield, 2010). These studies have found reductions ranging from 0.12 of one permanent tooth surfaces saved in Western Australia (Spencer et al., 1996) to 0.6 permanent tooth surface saved in the largest survey ever conducted in the US (Brunelle and Carlos, 1990). This is not very much when you consider that there are five surfaces to the chewing teeth and four to the cutting teeth, and by the time all the child’s teeth have erupted there are a total of 128 tooth surfaces. One tooth surface saved amounts to less than 1% of all the surfaces in a child’s mouth. Now even this small benefit has evaporated.
 
More on the history.
 
In 1999, the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia’s peak Medical Research body, stated that, “evidence exists that tooth eruption is delayed in fluoridated areas. It has been suggested that a proper comparison of caries rates should involve children one year older in fluoridated areas than in non- fluoridated areas.”

In 2000, the York Review pointed out that none of the studies that they had reviewed had controlled for “the number of erupted teeth per child” (McDonagh et al., 2000, p.24).
 
In 2005, Komarek et al.  did control for eruption of teeth and reported no difference in decay between children living in Belgium receiving fluoride supplements (and those who weren’t) that was relatable to fluoride exposure (as measured by the severity of dental fluorosis).
 
In 2009, Peiris et al. reported that children in largely fluoridated Australia had a delay in “dental age” of 0.82 years compared to children in largely unfluoridated UK. However, the authors did not discuss the possible reasons for this delay and the number of children involved in the study (about 80 in each country) was not very large.

2011. Now the bombshell – the delay has been found and it is in the official statistics.  ARCPOH has failed to respond to several inquiries on this matter.  According to Haines, “Surely, this must end water fluoridation. If it doesn’t work what’s the point of putting this toxic substance into the drinking water and what reason can they possibly have for forcing it on people who don’t want it?”

However, this isn’t just about teeth. The finding could be even more significant than that. If fluoride causes a delayed eruption of the teeth then the most likely mechanism for doing so is fluoride’s ability to lower thyroid function (see chapter 8 in the 2006 National Research Council review, “Fluoride in Drinking Water.” According to Connett,  “Lowered thyroid function in infants would mean slower growth of their tissues and could explain the 24 studies that have found an association between lowered IQ in children and exposure to moderate levels of fluoride in China, India, Iran and Mexico.”
 
It also raises the possibility that millions of people in fluoridated countries suffering from hypothyroidism have had this condition caused, or exacerbated, by exposure to fluoridated water.  Haines’ asks “If ingesting fluoride delays tooth eruption for 1 to 2 years what other effects is it having on our bodies?”
 
Meanwhile, if swallowing fluoride does not reduce tooth decay, why would any reasonable person, decision maker or regulatory official continue to sanction adding fluoride to the public water supply?
 
Australian  media contacts   mobiles  -  0418 777 112 and 0403029077 
Media Release sent by Queenslanders For Safe Water on behalf of Fluoride Action Network Australia Inc

by VRP Staff - http://www.vrp.com/

You might think of fluoridated water as a good thing—after all, this organic compound is added to our drinking supply for a reason, right? Unfortunately, however, the bigger picture isn’t quite so clear: Although water fluoridation has been standard practice in the U.S. since 1945, research suggests that using it on your teeth might also come with more than one dangerous consequence—especially where your brain is concerned.¹

For example, rodent studies show that fluoride exposure can cause free radical damage to DNA molecules and cells in areas of the brain that are essential for cognition, as well as structural brain changes and phospholipid decreases that correlate to impaired learning ability.^2-4 Even more research has shown that fluoride elevates the activity of acetylcholinesterase—an enzyme that breaks down the critical memory-related neurotransmitter acetylcholine—while also altering levels of a number of other neurotransmitters (including dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin) that play a role in your brain’s recall ability.^5-6

Scientists speculate that the reason for fluoride’s negative effects on the brain traces back to its role in oxidative damage. As it turns out, even low levels of exposure over a period of 10 weeks can increase free radical loads and sap stores of the crucial antioxidant glutathione, along with other key antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase.^7-8

What’s worse, increased fluoride intake may have a direct effect on IQ scores—especially among children. Research indicates that elevated urinary fluoride levels are associated with poorer verbal and performance evaluations in this age group, indicating that increased intake of this compound may have a startlingly negative impact on childhood intelligence development.^9-10 In fact, in areas with higher levels of fluoride in drinking water, there is as much as five times the risk of developing a low IQ than in low-fluoride areas.¹¹ But even at these lower levels, research has revealed that fluoride in water can have a significant impact on intelligence quotients.¹²

So what can you do to keep fluoride out of your body? Well, keeping it out of your water with the help of a special “fluoride certified” water system is a good place to start—but luckily, several natural compounds have been shown to counteract fluoride’s effects, too. For example, animal research shows that melatonin (available as a daily supplement from VRP) can reduce markers of oxidative stress while enhancing the brain’s antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione levels.^13-14

Supplementation with iodine (as found in VRP’s Iodoral®) has also been shown to support brain health—low levels of this mineral are linked to low IQ risk in children—while facilitating urinary fluoride excretion.^15-17 Meanwhile, the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin (both found in VRP’s formula called ATP Cofactors) work in combination to promote maximum iodine absorption and minimum fluoride retention.¹⁸

Unfortunately, fluoride detoxification can also trigger a temporary reaction in the form of brain fog and sluggish thinking. To re-energize your brain and promote mental clarity, you can turn to a combination of phophatidylserine (which has been shown to improve cognitive function and mental performance under stress) and glycerophosphocholine (which boosts brain levels of memory- and learning-related neurotransmitters)—both of which are included with acetyl-L-carnitine in VRP’s Brain Vibrance™ Liquid Shots.^19-22

Acetyl-L-carnitine is also a featured ingredient in VRP’s brain-nourishing formula called Neuron Growth Factors (NGF™)—along with acetyl-L-carnitine arginate, Gotu kola, Ginkgo biloba, and uridine, all of which can aid in counteracting fluoride’s pro-oxidant effects by supporting the growth and rejuvenation of your brain’s neurites and dendrites.^23-24

References:

1. Environmental Health Criteria 227: Fluorides. World Health Organization, 2002, Available at: http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc227.htm#5.0. Accessed on: 1-22-10.

2. Chen J, Chen X, Yang K, et al. Studies on DNA damage and apoptosis in rat brain induced by fluoride. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2002 Jul;36(4):222-4.

3. Zhang Z, Xu X, Shen X, et al. Effect of fluoride exposure on synaptic structure of brain areas related to learning-memory in mice. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Jul;28(4):210-2.

4. Guan ZZ, Wang YN, Xiao KQ, et al. Influence of chronic fluorosis on membrane lipids in rat brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1998 Sep-Oct;20(5):537-42.

5. Zhao XL, Wu JH. Actions of sodium fluoride on acetylcholinesterase activities in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 1998 Mar;11(1):1-6.

6. Pereira M, Dombrowski PA, Losso EM, et al. Memory impairment induced by sodium fluoride is associated with changes in brain monoamine levels. Neurotox Res. 2011 Jan;19(1):55-62.

7. Chouhan S, Flora SJ. Effects of fluoride on the tissue oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats: biochemical assays supported by IR spectroscopy data. Toxicology. 2008 Dec 5;254(1-2):61-7.

8. Basha PM, Rai P, Begum S. Evaluation of Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain: A Multigeneration Study. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Jul 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.

9. Rocha-Amador D, Navarro ME, Carrizales L, et al. Decreased intelligence in children and exposure to fluoride and arsenic in drinking water. Cad Saude Publica. 2007;23 Suppl 4:S579-87.

10. Liu M, Qian C. Effect of endemic fluorosis on children’s intelligence development: a Meta analysis. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2008 Dec;10(6):723-5.

11. Tang QQ, Du J, Ma HH, et al. Fluoride and children’s intelligence: a meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Winter;126(1-3):115-20.

12. Ding Y, Yanhuigao, Sun H, et al. The relationships between low levels of urine fluoride on children’s intelligence, dental fluorosis in endemic fluorosis areas in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. J Hazard Mater. 2010 Dec 25. Published Online Ahead of Print.

13. Pant HH, Rao MV. Evaluation of in vitro anti-genotoxic potential of melatonin against arsenic and fluoride in human blood cultures. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2010 Sep;73(6):1333-7.

14. Bharti VK, Srivastava RS. Fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat’s brain and its amelioration by buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) pineal proteins and melatonin. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Aug;130(2):131-40.

15. Santiago-Fernandez P, Torres-Barahona R, Muela-Martinez JA, et al. Intelligence quotient and iodine intake: a cross-sectional study in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Aug;89(8):3851-7.

16. Qian M, Wang D, Watkins WE, et al. The effects of iodine on intelligence in children: a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(1):32-42.

17. Abraham GE. Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increases Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide. Townsend Letter, 2003;238:108-109.

18. Stookey GK. Influence of riboflavin on fluoride metabolism in the rat. J Dent Res. 1973 Jul-Aug;52(4):843.

19. Cenacchi T, Bertoldin T, Farina C, et al. Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration. Aging (Milano). 1993 Apr;5(2):123-33.

20. Benton D, Donohoe RT, Sillane, B, et al. The influence of phosphatidylserine supplementation on mood and heart rate when faced with an acute stressor. Nutri Neurosci. June 2001;4(3):169-78.

21. Vezzetti V, Bettini R. Clinical and instrument evaluation of the effect of choline alfoscerate on cerebral decline. Presse Medicale. 1992;5:141.

22. De Jesus Moreno Moreno M. Cognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Ther. 2003;25(1):178-93.

23. Taglialatela, G, Navarra D, Olivi A, et al. Neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells stimulated by acetyl-L- carnitine arginine amide. Neurochem Res. 1995 Jan;20(1):1-9.

24. Pooler AM, Guez DH, Benedictus R, et al. Uridine enhances neurite outgrowth in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC 12 (corrected). Neuroscience. 2005;134(1):207-14.

by Chris D. Meletis, ND

In last month’s newsletter, I discussed the effects of the chemical compound fluoride on the brain and cognition. This article furthers that discussion and covers the physiological impact of fluoride, found in most community drinking water, on other body systems. Research has shown that fluoride intake negatively affects numerous organs and physiological processes, including the bones, thyroid, cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, breast, and immune and reproductive function. Numerous studies indicate that fluoride affects these organs and physiological processes by inducing free radical production resulting in oxidative damage.^1-3This is also apparent in the association between cancer rates and fluoridation of water supplies. Data indicates that increased water fluoride levels are associated with increases in several types of cancer including cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, urinary organs, brain, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma and leukemia.⁴

Thyroid, Breast, and Bones

The thyroid is one of the organs affected by fluoride intake. In one study, researchers evaluated thyroid function in rats consuming a diet with added fluoride. The rats were evaluated for serum levels of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3), free T3, thyroxine (T4) and free T4. Free T3 and free T4 are hormones not bound to proteins, and thus are biologically active. The results of the study showed that the rats fed the diet with fluoride added had significantly decreased levels of all 4 thyroid hormone measurements.⁵ Another study evaluated thyroid function in individuals exposed to elevated fluoride levels in drinking water. In this study, 123 subjects were evaluated for thyroid hormone levels. The results indicated that prolonged consumption of drinking water with elevated levels of fluoride caused an increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) released from the pituitary, decreased levels of T3, and a more intense absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid as compared to healthy individuals who consumed drinking water with the normal fluoride concentration.⁶

A third study evaluated the effects of long-term workplace exposure to fluorine on parameters of immune function. The researchers found that chronic fluorine exposure resulted in immune deficiencies in all workers. However, in the subset of workers with decreased thyroid function, the immune effects were more pronounced. In the subset with low thyroid function, there were increased numbers of T-lymphocytes (white blood cells); however, the functional activity of these cells was decreased, with adverse effects seen on measures of immune cell cooperation.⁷

Bones are just as vulnerable to fluoride’s effects. Research has shown that fluoride can cause increased bone turnover and altered mineral metabolism, which may affect bone density as well as cause exostosis formation (the growth of boney masses). Also, small doses of fluoride ingested over a long period of time with normal calcium intake can result in osteosclerosis, which is the abnormal hardening of bone.⁸ Studies have also demonstrated that fluoride administration results in apoptosis (programmed cell death) in osteoblasts, which are the cells that synthesize bone, as well as down-regulation of the synthesis of the collagen proteins found in bone.⁹ Similarly, another study showed that low dosages of fluoride result in decreased viability of osteoblasts, and increased markers of oxidative stress including increased lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity in the osteoblasts.¹⁰

Furthermore, research has found an association between bone tumors and fluoride exposure. One study showed that serum fluoride levels were significantly higher in subjects with osteosarcomas compared to individuals with other boney tumors or healthy controls.¹¹ Similarly, another study found that the incidence of osteosarcoma in males correlated with levels of fluoride in the drinking water during childhood.¹²

Fluoride is also taken up by breast tissue. Researchers have shown that fluoride levels in breast milk parallel both serum levels of fluoride as well as fluoride levels in the drinking water.^13-14

Heart, Pancreas, Liver, and Kidneys

Fluorosis, or increased fluoride exposure, can damage the cardiovascular system. Researchers have shown that subjects with increased fluoride intake have global heart dysfunction and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, meaning the heart does not relax properly.¹⁵ Additionally, fluoride can cause abnormalities in the elasticity of the aorta, the primary blood vessel leading from the heart.¹⁶

Animal models suggest that fluoride also affects insulin secretion from the pancreas. One study showed that mice exposed to fluoride in the drinking water for 4 weeks resulted in elevated blood glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance and decreased insulin secretion from the beta cells in the pancreas. The researchers also showed that these changes were related to an increase in markers of oxidative stress and free radical generation.¹⁷ Another study using mice revealed that fluoride exposure resulted in a reduction of insulin secretion by 85 percent compared to the control mice not exposed to fluoride.¹⁸

Research also indicates that fluoride impacts liver and kidney function. Using animal models, researchers showed that fluoride in the drinking water (15 mg/L) resulted in severe alterations in both the liver and kidney architecture.¹⁹ In another study, 332 middle-aged healthy subjects were evaluated for serum ionic fluoride concentrations and measurements of kidney function. The study found that serum ionic fluoride concentrations correlated to the estimated glomerular filtration rate, which is a measurement of kidney health, indicating an association between fluoride and age-related degeneration in kidney function.²⁰ Researchers have also shown that varying levels of fluoride in the drinking water influences kidney health in children. In this study, the researchers showed that over 2.0 mg/L fluoride in drinking water can cause kidney damage in children, and the degree of damage increases with the drinking water fluoride content.²¹

Reproduction

Several studies have shown that fluoride is a key factor in reduced fertility and declining health of spermatozoa. In one study, spermatozoa from mice treated with fluoride in the drinking water were compared to spermatozoa from mice without fluoride exposure. The study demonstrated that fluoride exposure resulted in increased measurements of oxidative stress in the sperm. Furthermore, the percent of spermatozoa that were capable of fertilizing an egg in the fluoride-treated group was 34 percent, compared to 55 percent of the spermatozoa from mice in the control group.²² Another study showed that fluoride exposure resulted in decreased sperm count, motility and density.²³

Data also shows that fluoride exposure in the drinking water influences fertility rates in humans. Using a database of drinking water fluoridation in 30 regions in the U.S., researchers showed that the annual total fertility rate was negatively associated with water fluoridation, meaning that as fluoride levels increased, the total fertility rate for that region decreased.²⁴

Fluoride, Other Halogens, and Health

Fluorine belongs to the halogen family of elements, a group of highly reactive non-metals including iodine, chlorine, bromine (found in most commercial, non-organic breads) and astatine. This is important as the halogens can displace each other in physiologic reaction and compete for uptake from the intestines. Organs such as the thyroid and breast tissue utilize iodine for physiological processes, and excessive fluoride intake can interfere with these reactions.

Thus, supplementation with another halogen, such as iodine, can compete with fluoride uptake by cells in the body. Research has shown that iodine supplementation can decrease fluoride uptake in cells. In one study, researchers showed that increased fluoride or chloride intake reduced the effectiveness of iodine administration in rats with hypothyroidism to improve hormone and lipid levels.²⁵ It is important to optimize iodine intake to reduce the impact of fluoride on the body.

Iodoral® is an oral iodine supplement that contains 5 mg iodine and 7.5 mg iodide as the potassium salt and is an ideal way to replenish body stores of this important mineral. An iodine sufficiency test can also be taken prior to supplementation in order to establish how much iodine is needed.

In addition to iodine supplementation, intake of riboflavin and niacin (as found in ATP Cofactors), should also be considered as these vitamins are important in the oxidation and incorporation of iodide into cells and hormones.²⁶ These B vitamins also support cellular energy (ATP) production, and riboflavin has been shown to increase fluoride excretion in the feces.²⁷

In addition, Celtic Sea Salt®, a natural form of salt, can be used to optimize intake of sodium, chloride and trace minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. Chloride, which couples with such minerals as sodium, sodium chloride (NaCl), and potassium (KCl), is a critical mineral and friendly halide that can help one’s body cope with the balancing act of dealing with high fluoride and bromide levels, in the environment and diet. Salt has sustained humanity for millennia, yet the form of salt is critical. Celtic Sea Salt is vital for proper body mineralization and cellular function, including electro-gradients of cell membranes.

Conclusion

Fluoride is an ubiquitous chemical compound, which has both beneficial and adverse effects on health, with a narrow range between the intakes at which this occurs.²⁸ Supplementation with iodine and other trace minerals can compete with fluoride and reduce the impact of excessive fluoridation on physiological processes in the body.

References

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2. Morales-González JA, Gutiérrez-Salinas J, García-Ortiz L, et al. Effect of sodium fluoride ingestion on malondialdehyde concentration and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rat erythrocytes. Int J Mol Sci. 2010 Jun 11;11(6):2443-52.

3. Shivarajashankara YM, Shivashankara AR, Bhat PG, et al. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems in the blood of young rats subjected to chronic fluoride toxicity. Indian J Exp Biol. 2003 Aug;41(8):857-60.

4. Takahashi K, Akiniwa K, Narita K. Regression analysis of cancer incidence rates and water fluoride in the U.S.A. based on IACR/IARC (WHO) data (1978-1992). International Agency for Research on Cancer. J Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;11(4):170-9.

5. Wang H, Yang Z, Zhou B, et al. Fluoride-induced thyroid dysfunction in rats: roles of dietary protein and calcium level. Toxicol Ind Health. 2009 Feb;25(1):49-57.

6. Bachinskiĭ PP, Gutsalenko OA, Naryzhniuk ND, et al. Action of the body fluorine of healthy persons and thyroidopathy patients on the function of hypophyseal-thyroid the system. Probl Endokrinol (Mosk). 1985 Nov-Dec;31(6):25-9.

7. Balabolkin MI, Mikhaĭlets ND, Lobovskaia RN, et al. The interrelationship of the thyroid and immune statuses of workers with long-term fluorine exposure. Ter Arkh. 1995;67(1):41-2.

8. Krishnamachari KA. Skeletal fluorosis in humans: a review of recent progress in the understanding of the disease. Prog Food Nutr Sci. 1986;10(3-4):279-314.

9. Yan X, Yan X, Morrison A, et al. Fluoride induces apoptosis and alters collagen I expression in rat osteoblasts. Toxicol Lett. 2011 Feb 5;200(3):133-8.

10. Xu H, Wang CH, Zhao ZT, et al. Role of oxidative stress in osteoblasts exposed to sodium fluoride. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Summer;123(1-3):109-15.

11. Sandhu R, Lal H, Kundu ZS, et al. Serum Fluoride and Sialic Acid Levels in Osteosarcoma. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Apr 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.

12. Bassin EB, Wypij D, Davis RB, et al. Age-specific fluoride exposure in drinking water and osteosarcoma (United States). Cancer Causes Control. 2006 May;17(4):421-8.

13. Sener Y, Tosun G, Kahvecioglu F, et al. Fluoride levels of human plasma and breast milk. Eur J Dent. 2007 Jan;1(1):21-4.

14. Esala S, Vuori E, Helle A. Effect of maternal fluorine intake on breast milk fluorine content. Br J Nutr. 1982 Sep;48(2):201-4.

15. Varol E, Akcay S, Ersoy IH, et al. Impact of chronic fluorosis on left ventricular diastolic and global functions. Sci Total Environ. 2010 May 1;408(11):2295-8.

16. Varol E, Akcay S, Ersoy IH, et al. Aortic elasticity is impaired in patients with endemic fluorosis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Feb;133(2):121-7.

17. García-Montalvo EA, Reyes-Pérez H, Del Razo LM. Fluoride exposure impairs glucose tolerance via decreased insulin expression and oxidative stress. Toxicology. 2009 Sep 19;263(2-3):75-83.

18. Menoyo I, Rigalli A, Puche RC. Effect of fluoride on the secretion of insulin in the rat. Arzneimittelforschung. 2005;55(8):455-60.

19. Chattopadhyay A, Podder S, Agarwal S, et al. Fluoride-induced histopathology and synthesis of stress protein in liver and kidney of mice. Arch Toxicol. 2010 Sep 22. Published Online Ahead of Print.

20. Itai K, Onoda T, Nohara M, et al. Serum ionic fluoride concentrations are related to renal function and menopause status but not to age in a Japanese general population. Clin Chim Acta. 2010 Feb;411(3-4):263-6.

21. Liu JL, Xia T, Yu YY, et al. The dose-effect relationship of water fluoride levels and renal damage in children. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2005 May;34(3):287-8.

22. Izquierdo-Vega JA, Sánchez-Gutiérrez M, Del Razo LM. Decreased in vitro fertility in male rats exposed to fluoride-induced oxidative stress damage and mitochondrial

transmembrane potential loss. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008 Aug 1;230(3):352-7.

23. Gupta RS, Khan TI, Agrawal D, et al. The toxic effects of sodium fluoride on the reproductive system of male rats. Toxicol Ind Health. 2007 Oct;23(9):507-13.

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By Marianna Leigh

(NaturalNews) Fluoride is getting a lot of bad press these days, and for good reason: it is a toxic molecule that wreaks extensive, often irreversible, havoc on the body. The thyroid is particularly affected by fluoride exposure because its store of iodine is depleted. Iodine deficiency depresses the thyroid’s metabolic and immune functions, resulting in hypothyroidism and lowered immunity.

Fluoride and iodine are both halogens. Fluoride, the negative ion of the element fluorine, easily displaces iodine in the body because it is much lighter and therefore more reactive. In fact, the activity of any one of the halogens (Iodine 126.70, Bromine 79.90, Chlorine 35.45, Fluorine 18.99 are the most common) is inversely proportional to its atomic weight. In other words, one halogen can displace another one of a higher atomic weight but cannot displace one of lower weight.

Lack of iodine shuts down production of thyroxine, the thyroid prohormone that controls metabolism, and, in one way or another, impacts every aspect of health. The resulting hypothyroidism causes weight gain, cold intolerance, dry and prematurely aged skin, depression, constipation, hair loss, memory loss, irritability, increased cholesterol levels, heart disease and loss of libido.

But the action of iodine in the thyroid is not limited to metabolism; it also has an important immune function. Blood circulates through the thyroid once every 17 minutes in what has been called the ’17 minute passage’. Secretion of iodine, a potent germ killer, into the blood stream as it is passing through the thyroid weaken invading organisms, allowing them to be more easily eradicated. If the thyroid is deficient in iodine, this critical step in immunity will be reduced or eliminated.

Unlike iodine, which the body cannot store long-term, fluoride is a problematic and persistent toxin. Its effects are systemic and only about half of what is ingested can be excreted; the rest is stored in bones and tissues, blocking access to other elements, like iodine.

Fluoride exposure can come from multiple obvious and not-so-obvious sources. In addition to dental hygiene products and drinking water, many breakfast cereals, juices from concentrate, soda and other processed foods contain alarming levels. Fluoride-containing pesticide use means that the environment is being flooded with fluoride by conventional agriculture (http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-pesticides.htm). Also, many antidepressants contain large amounts of fluoride and are widely prescribed, often for a lifetime of use.

Conventional medicine’s response to hypothyroidism typically ignores causes and prescribes synthetic thyroxine hormone in an attempt to balance out the health equation with another unnatural substance; this is nothing new. But hypothyroidism is a national epidemic, affecting roughly 10% of the female population in the US and in no way sparing men. It has created a stable, ever-expanding market for these cash cow thyroid drugs (the leading thyroid drug was number 7 on JAMA’s list of ‘most commonly prescribed’ in 2006; one year later it was number 4).

One might assume then that fluoride’s role in depressing thyroid function is a new discovery, that government fluoride programs simply lack this vital information. Yet research has been taking place since the 1930s, when fluoride was used to treat individuals with overactive thyroid. The relationship is well established, and old.

Which leads inevitably to a difficult question: How could government allow fluoride addition to drinking water, approve fluoride-containing drugs and pesticides, and fail to test for fluoride content in food when there is a known connection with serious thyroid complications?

Perhaps the case value of the fact that millions of Americans take thyroid drugs, and most likely will take them the rest of their lives, can suggest an unbiased, honest answer.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026853_thyroid_hypothyroidism_disease.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/133622-common-prescription-drugs/

http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

About the Author:

Marianne Leigh is a writer who is deeply concerned with environmental and natural health issues. Her latest project is creating a food blog for her community that provokes discussion about food, natural health and local sustainable agriculture.