Circulating testosterone levels in skeletal fluorosis patients

Abstract

Objective: The present study focusses on serum testosterone concentrations in patients with skeletal fluorosis, in order to assess the hormonal status in fluoride toxicity. Methods: Serum testosterones were compared for patients afflicted with skeletal fluorosis (n = 30) and healthy males consuming water containing less than 1 ppm fluoride (Control 1, n = 26) and a second category of controls (Control 2, n = 16): individuals living in the same house as the patients and consuming same water as patients but not exhibiting clinical manifestations of skeletal fluorosis. Results: Circulating serum testosterones in skeletal fluorosis patients were significantly lower than those of Control 1 at p <0.01. Testosterone concentrations of Control 2 were also lower than those of Control 1 at p <0.05 but were higher than those of the patient group. Conclusion: Decreased testosterone concentrations in skeletal fluorosis patients and in males drinking the same water as the patients but with no clinical manifestations of the disease compared with those of normal, healthy males living in areas nonendemic for fluorosis suggest that fluoride toxicity may cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of males living in fluorosis endemic areas.