BONE MINERALIZATION AND HISTOMORPHOMETRY IN BIOPSIES OF OSTEOPOROTIC PATIENTS TREATED WITH FLUORIDE

Treatment of osteoporotic patients with sodium fluoride (NaF) has been shown to increase vertebral bone mass but there is a debate as to whether fluoride increases or decreases vertebral fractures. Using bone biopsies of patients investigated for osteoporosis which were either treated with NaF or untreated, we applied the technique of backscattered electron imaging (BSE) to determine the degree of mineralization of the bone biopsies. We found a significant increase in mineralization with fluoride treatment. We also found a poor correlation between fluoride dose and bone fluoride content. Finally all bone formation parameters were elevated in the fluoride treated bone. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that fluoride treatment increases bone mineralization together with an increase in bone formation parameters.