Excessive Ingestion of Fluoride and the Significance of Sialic Acid: Glycosaminoglycans in the Serum of Rabbit and Human Subjects

Abstract

The levels of sialic acid and glycosaminoglycans were explored in the sera of rabbit and human subjects who ingested fluoride and had clinical manifestation of fluorosis. Changes observed in the level of these chemical constituents in sera possibly reflect changes occurring in calcified and noncalcified tissues due to fluoride intoxication. The ratio of sialic acid content vs glycosaminoglycans revealed there was a 50% reduction in rabbit and human sera. The test is recommended for evaluating the prognosis of fluoride poisoning/fluorosis.