J Appl Biomed 2:141-150, 2004 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2004.017

Fluorine in medicine

Anna Strunecká1,*, Jiří Patočka2, Paul Connett3
1 Department of Physiology and Developmental Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
2 Department of Toxicology, Military Medical Academy, Hradec Králové and Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
3 St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, USA

Fluoride has long been known to influence the activity of various enzymes in vitro. Latterly it has been demonstrated that many effects primarily attributed to fluoride are caused by a synergistic action of fluoride plus aluminum. Fluorinated chemicals are of growing importance, with applications in medicine. Fluorine substitution has profound effects on the properties of organic compounds. The very high electronegativity of fluorine can modify electron distribution in the molecule, affecting its absorption, distribution and metabolism. Fluorine-containing drugs are used in medicine as anesthetics, antibiotics, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents, psychopharmaceuticals, and in many other applications. The potential contribution of fluorinating pharmaceuticals to human fluoride exposure is discussed.

Keywords: fluoride; aluminofluoride complexes; fluorine-containing drugs; health effects

Received: June 4, 2004; Published: July 31, 2004  Show citation

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Strunecká A, Patočka J, Connett P. Fluorine in medicine. J Appl Biomed. 2004;2(3):141-150. doi: 10.32725/jab.2004.017.
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