Previous research has shown that fluoride ingestion can increase inflammation markers in rodents. However, making direct comparisons between rodent and human studies has been problematic because of the much higher water fluoride concentrations required for rodents. Using the publicly available NHANES survey data from 2013-2016, Den Besten and co-workers found that in humans, higher plasma fluoride levels are linked to increased levels of water fluoride, total WBC count, segmented neutrophils, and monocytes, but they are inversely related to the red blood cell count. This observation in U.S. youth aligns with the rodent data, suggesting fluoride might play a role in increasing inflammation. These findings highlight the importance of further studying how our bodies absorb and process ingested fluoride, particularly in organs such as the small intestine, liver, and kidney. Link to article
