UK PLAN TO FLUORIDATE THE SCHOOL MILK
SUPPLY
by George Glasser
The British Fluoridation Society and the United Kingdom
National Health Service are presently promoting the supply of fluoridated
milk to schools which, they claim, will reduce the incidence of tooth decay
among socially deprived children. One dental public health officer believes
that the program should be seen as an interim measure until artificial drinking
water fluoridation schemes can be more widely introduced.
Aware that fluoride is a cumulative poison, the World Health Organization
website states very clearly that analysis of the children's urine should be
considered mandatory for safety reasons when school fluoridated milk programs
are introduced. The need for caution is also clearly addressed in the Conclusions
to Fluorides and Oral Health (WHO, 1994), which states: "Dental and public
health administrators should be aware of the total fluoride exposure in the
population before introducing any additional fluoride program for caries prevention."
Promoters of fluoride are generally unaware of the existence of such warnings
or the need for them.
A review of the studies associated with the practice reveals that the researchers
are unable to make up their minds whether the effect of fluoridated milk is
topical or systemic and their conclusions are shrouded in ambiguous terminology
claiming success without scientific substantiation.
Paradoxically, in order to minimize the effects of fluoride poisoning, toxicologists
recommend milk as an antidote. This is reflected in instructions on fluoride
supplements which state that the tablets or drops should not be taken simultaneously
with milk because the calcium in the milk inactivates the fluoride.
When sodium fluoride is added to milk, it reacts with calcium and precipitation
begins depositing calcium fluoride at the bottom of the container within an
hour. Calcium fluoride is very difficult for the body to assimilate. Also,
if the milk has been stored for any length of time, there is no certainty
that the children ingest any traceable amount of the calcium fluoride.
Even the prestigious US National Academy of Sciences recognizes the affinity
between calcium and fluoride. In 'Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus,
Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride' (1999) National Academy Press, they note:
"High intake of calcium rich foods cause elimination of systemic fluoride
in feces equal to or greater than the fluoride intake."
The proponents of milk fluoridation suggest that residual
milk in the mouth acts as a time-release mechanism, enabling fluoride to remineralize
the teeth. This is at odds with many studies which state that the released
fluoride combines with calcium in the saliva and forms a plaque on the teeth
which is essentially non-reactive and possibly acts as a protective coating
against further fluoride damage.
In response to concerns raised by antifluoridation organizations, the fluoride
experts at BFS and NHS cite studies purporting to show the safety and efficacy
of milk fluoridation programs. One study conducted by the World Health Organization
claimed that fluoridated milk reduced cavities by 90%. However, that claim
was tempered with the caveat:
"Results seem to confirm the caries-reducing effects of milk fluoridation
found in previous studies. Unexpected large caries reductions obtained in
this non-experimental study, however, probably cannot be attributed to the
fluoridation of milk alone. The mere introduction of the project might have
led to other changes affecting dental caries, such as improved oral hygiene
and better dietary habits."(Pakhomov GN et al. (1995) Dental caries-reducing
effects of a milk fluoridation project in Bulgaria. Journal of Public Health
Dentistry, 55: 234-237).
Several milk fluoridation studies suggest that milk has no more effect on
the development of healthy teeth and bones than distilled water. Tooth remineralization
occurs because of the presence of calcium and phosphorus in the milk.
Also, no study accounted for the ambient fluoride present in the milk before
adding the sodium fluoride. It is known that up to one part per million or
more of fluoride can be captured within the protein in milk. The fluoride
in the milk protein is more likely to be digested and metabolized than the
calcium fluoride created after adding sodium fluoride.
In order for any fluoride to show up in the blood or urine after consuming fluoridated or nonfluoridated milk, the children would be required to fast for at least twelve hours before drinking the milk with a "mineral deficient" meal.
The World Health Organization cite only six references on their web page, including one dating back to 1931. In fact, the only claim made in the Borrow-WHO collaboration on milk fluoridation is quite noncommittal:
"Fluoridated milk seems to keep a permanently low level of ionized fluoride within the oral cavity promoting remineralization. It is likely that this topical mechanism contributes to the caries-preventive effect of fluoridated milk. However there are still a series of unanswered questions, and additional studies should be performed to determine:
· the age at which it is best to start drinking
fluoridated milk.
· for how many years it should continue,
· the frequency of consumption,
· optimum fluoride concentration to be added,
· anti-caries effect of milk and it's products
Essentially, the National Health Service is still experimenting
with milk fluoridation schemes and using children as the test subjects. This
exercise seems a waste of time and tax payers' money because it is based on
adding the "poison to the remedy."
References
1. Lennon MA, Jones S, Woodward SM, Some operational aspects of school-milk
fluoridation in St. Helens, Merseyside, UK, Adv Dent Res 1995 Jul;9(2):118-9.
2. Bian JY, Li RY, Wang WJ, Feasibility of milk fluoridation and trends in
dental caries of children in China, Adv Dent Res 1995 Jul;9(2):112-5.
3. The possibility of school milk as a vehicle for fluoride: epidemiological,
organisational and legal considerations, Community Dent Health 1992 Dec; 9(4):335-42.
4. Stomatologiia (Mosk), Milk fluoridation program in Codegua, Chile: evaluation
after 3 years, Rev Panam Salud Publica1999 Aug; 6(2):117-21.
5. A model outline of the organizational and medical measures for the introduction
of milk fluoridation projects in different regions of Russia, 1996;Spec No:25-6.
6. Ivanova K, Pakhomov GN, Moeller IJ, Vrabcheva M, Caries reduction by milk
fluoridation in Bulgaria, Adv Dent Res 1995 Jul;9(2):120-1.
7. Dental caries-reducing effects of a milk fluoridation project in Bulgaria,
J Public Health Dent 1995 Fall;55(4):234-7.
8. Some operational aspects of school-milk fluoridation in St. Helens, Merseyside,
UK, Adv Dent Res 1995 Jul;9(2):118-9.
9. Clovis J, Hargreaves JA, Fluoride intake from beverage consumption, Community
Dent Oral Epidemiol 1988Feb;16(1):11-5.
10. White CH, Milk, milk products, and dental health, J Dairy Sci 1987 Feb;70(2):392-6.
12. Dirks OB, Jongeling-Eijndhoven JM, Flissebaalje TD, Gedalia I, Total and
free ionic fluoride in human and cow's milk as determined by gas-liquid chromatography
and the fluoride electrode, Caries Res 1974;8(2):181-6.
13. Larsen MJ, Ravnholt G, Dissolution of various calcium fluoride preparations
in inorganic solutions and in stimulated human saliva, Caries Res 1994;28(6):447-54.
14. Ekstrand J, Oliveby A, Fluoride in the oral environment, Acta Odontol
Scand 1999 Dec;57(6):330-3.
15. Effect of fluoride addition on ionized calcium in salivary sediment and
in saliva, Scand J Dent Res 1988 Oct;96(5):399-404.
16. Larsen MJ, Richards A, The Influence of Saliva on the Formation of Calcium
Fluoride-Like Material on Human Dental Enamel, Caries Res 2001 Jan;35(1):57-60.
17. Afseth J, Ekstrand J, Hagelid P, Dissolution of calcium fluoride tablets
in vitro and bioavailability in man, Scand J Dent Res 1987 Apr;95(2):191-2.
Abstract:
The dissolution rate of CaF2 tablets in vitro and the degree of F absorption
in vivo after tablet intake in man were investigated. 50% of total F was released
in 0.1 N HCl after 45 min whereas virtually no release was seen in H2O or
in 0.2 M PO4-buffer pH 6.8. In spite of the modest release of F in simulated
gastric juice in vitro no F absorption as judged from the plasma fluoride
concentration curve was seen within 6 h after intake of 4 mg F as CaF2 tablets.
18. Richards A, Fejerskov O, Ekstrand J, Fluoride pharmacokinetics in the
domestic pig, J Dent Res 1982 Sep;61(9):1099-102
Abstract: Plasma fluoride concentrations were studied in 11 pigs following
single oral or intravenous doses of fluoride. The results showed a less-than-20%
bioavailability of fluoride when administered with calcium-rich food. Pharmacokinetic
analyses showed that the plasma half-life varied from 0.6 to 1.4 h, depending
on diet and route of fluoride administration. These data are comparable to
those reported for man, and thus illustrate the suitability of the pig for
studies of effects of fluoride on hard tissues.
19. Ekstrand J, Ehrnebo M, Influence of milk products on fluoride bioavailability
in man, Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1979 Sep;16(3):211-5
Abstract: The effect of milk products on the gastrointestinal absorption of
fluoride from sodium fluoride tablets was studied in five healthy subjects.
Two different diets were tested: (1) 250 ml standardized milk (3% fat) and
(2) 500 ml of milk, 3 pieces of white bread with cheese and 150 ml of yoghurt.
The 100% bioavailability of sodium fluoride tablets during fasting was greatly
decreased by coadministration of milk products: with Diet 1 the absolute bioavailability
calculated from combined plasma and urine data was in the range 50--79% and
with Diet 2 it ranged from 50--71%. It is suggested that the decreased bioavailability
produced by dairy products should be taken into account when establishing
flouride dosage regimens for prophylaxis of caries.
20. WHO Collaboration WEB page on milk fluoridation
cited the following studies:
21. Bánóczy J et al. (1985) Effect of fluoridated milk on caries:
5-year results. Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 105: 99-103. 2. Milk
fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (1996) World Health Organization
and Borrow Dental Milk Foundation, Geneva. 3. Pakhomov GN et al. (1995) Dental
caries-reducing effects of a milk fluoridation project in Bulgaria. Journal
of Public Health Dentistry, 55: 234-237 . 4. Roberts LJ et al. (1931) Effect
of a milk supplement on the physical status of institutional children. American
Journal of Diseases of Children, 56: 805-823. 5. Stephen KW et al. (1984)
Five-year double-blind fluoridated milk study in Scotland. Community Dentistry
and Oral Epidemiology, 12: 223-229. 6. Ziegler E (1956) [ The fluoridation
of milk ] Bulletin der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften,
12: 466- 480.
http://home.att.net/~gtigerclaw/MILK2.html
6th September 2001
www.rense.com
See also The National Pure Water Association at www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk
