Fluoride: a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease?

Abstract

Although the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and oral hygiene has been noticed before, there has been little research on prolonged fluoride exposure as a possible risk factor. In the presented cases, exposure to fluoride seems indirectly associated with higher incidence of IBD. Fluoride toxicology and epidemiology documents frequent unspecific chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and intestinal inflammation. Efflux genes that confer resistance to environmental fluoride may select for IBD associated gut microbiota and therefore be involved in the pathogenesis. Together these multidisciplinary results argue for further investigation on the hypothesis of fluoride as a risk factor for IBD.

Common contributing factors to COVID-19 and inflammatory bowel disease

“…IBD: “exposure to fluoride seems indirectly associated with higher incidence of IBD ... Epidemiological studies suggest an association between fluoride exposure and IBD” [ 157 ]…”

Metagenomic Analysis of Intestinal Microbiota in Florated Rats

“…Chronic inflammation of the digestive system (IBD) is often associated with oral hygiene. However, some studies have been conducted to suggest that long and excessive fluoride intake may also be a risk factor [37]. The significant change in intestinal microbial diversity in fluorinated rats supports this view.…”

Reply

“…5 Consensus has not been achieved in the diagnosis of EGIDs other than EoE. Few studies have characterized normal levels of eosinophils present in the gastrointestinal tract, 6,7 histologic features specific to EGIDs are understudied, 7,8 and the optimal number and location of biopsies needed to establish the diagnosis remain uncertain. We aimed to determine the number and location of biopsies obtained by gastroenterologists (GIs) attempting to diagnose EG, EGE, and EC.…”

“…Fluoride is an almost constant accompaniment to oral hygiene and chronic exposure has been proposed to be associated with the development of IBD. 7 The increasing prevalence of overexposure to fluorides in many areas in the world therefore should be monitored carefully for a concomitant increase in IBD. 7 Chlorhexidine, another commonly used oral hygiene aid, has been shown in several randomized controlled trials to profoundly affect nitric oxide metabolism.…”

“…7 The increasing prevalence of overexposure to fluorides in many areas in the world therefore should be monitored carefully for a concomitant increase in IBD. 7 Chlorhexidine, another commonly used oral hygiene aid, has been shown in several randomized controlled trials to profoundly affect nitric oxide metabolism. Nitric oxide plays an important role in the immune system, and dysregulation of nitric oxide levels has been linked to the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, including IBD.…”