Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme status of adult males with skeletal fluorosis in Andhra Pradesh, India

Blood samples from 24 adult males, age 25 to 40, with endemic skeletal fluorosis, living in the Vaillapally village of the Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India, were examined and compared with samples from 15 matched controls for their antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation. Elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels indicated an increase in lipid peroxidation products, and decreased activity levels of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) reflected significant alterations in their antioxidant status. These results, in agreement with recent findings by others, demonstrate that chronic fluoride intoxication in adult males elicits increased lipid peroxidation associated with a significant decrease in the activities of CAT and GST.