Fluorine

Chemical formula/structure

Formula- F

Structure- F-F

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/F/key.html

Natural Sources of this nutrient in foods

Virtually every food contains at least some fluoride. Plants take it up from the soil and from the air. From the soil, fluoride is transmitted through fine hair rootlets into the stems, and some reaches the leaves. Plants absorb more fluoride from sandy than from clay soil and more from wet and acid soils than from dry and alkaline ones. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), "Fresh or unprocessed foods available in the U.S. have fluoride concentrations that generally range from 0.02 to 2.00 ppm. Marine fish that are consumed with bones and bone meal supplements have been shown to be a rich source of fluoride in human food…The bones of some land-based animals also contain high levels of fluoride.

http://www.apfn.org/apfn/fluoride.htm

How it is used by the body

But this important element is also valuable because it helps the body strengthen the bones in your body. Fluoride is the most important trace element affecting bones and teeth. In fact, fluoride is the only element known to single-handedly stimulate bone growth. Fluoride, along with large quantities of calcium, is a large part of what makes your bones strong.

http://www.mii.org/periodic/LifeElement.html#f

Effects if this Nutrient is not present

Fluorine deficiency is common; foods high in fluorine are rarely eaten. The symptoms of fluorine deficiency are sadness in the first part of the day, deteriorating teeth, weak bones, disorganized life style, eye problems, indifference shifting to worry, apathy shifting to concern, hair loose, swollen eyelids, runny nose, and bronchial catarrh. They develop pus pockets on the skin, clammy skin, and sometimes a scaly skin appearance. These people crave fatty foods.

http://www.karinya.com/minexcess.htm

http://www.all-natural.com/fleffect.html

Elk Grove Main page MedChem Main page