Children, swallowing fluoride toothpaste threatens liver and kidneys

 Children, swallowing fluoride toothpaste threatens liver and kidneys

Studies have shown that fluoride can degrade kidney and liver function in adolescents.
A team of researchers from the U.S.-based Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine analyzed blood samples of 198 young adults to investigate the effects of fluoride on their health. According to the results of the study, increased levels of fluoride in blood led to higher blood element nitrogen concentration and creatinine index, and lower obituary fertilization rate. A high blood element nitrogen concentration and creatinine index indicate a decreased kidney function.

A low ratio of obituary tablets means that the ability to remove certain substances in the kidneys has decreased. Levels of AST and ALT that examine liver function also increased. AST, ALT, is an enzyme that mainly exists in the liver and is released into the blood if there is damage to the liver.

The research team analyzed that kidney and liver functions of adolescents are weaker than adults, so they absorb more fluoride into the body, leading to a higher risk of kidney and liver damage. In fact, other studies show that healthy adults produce about 60 percent of fluoride absorbed by their kidneys in urine, while children produce only 40 percent.

Also, children tend to rinse their teeth less when brushing their teeth, making them more likely to take fluoride from toothpaste. Some studies show that children under the age of 4 swallow about 40 percent of toothpaste.

"The effects of fluoride tooth decay are widely known, but the safety of fluoride is not well known," said Dr. Ashley Marin, who led the study. "Since fluoride is sometimes included in tap water, we need to reexamine the harmful effects of fluoride on public health."
The findings were published in the August issue of the "Environment International."