Serum fluoride level of children in Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Background: Serum fluoride level can be used as an indicator of fluoride intake into the body. Moreover serum fluoride level can be used as a biomarker for assessment, controlling and prevention of fluorosis in each area. It was found that the areas that water was contaminated with fluoride showed the incidences of fluorosis in children. However there was no report about the reference value of serum fluoride in children of Chiang Mai province.

Objective: To investigate serum fluoride level of children aged 8-14 years living in the Omkoi district, Chiang Mai province.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from 264 children who had fasted for 8 hours and the serum fluoride levels were measured using fluoride selective electrode (Orion). The reference interval was calculated using three methods of statistical analysis.

Results: The results showed that the reference interval calculated by mean±2SD was 0.000–0.084 mg/L. When the data was calculated by means of non-parametric method the reference interval was 0.015-0.117 mg/L. Finally, the use of converting data with logarithms indicated that the reference interval of serum fluoride was 0.011-0.112 mg/L.

Conclusion: It was documented that Omkoi district is not in the area of fluoride lode so the values obtained were within the normal range. Thus the result from this study should be used as a normal control or the reference interval for the assessment of fluorosis in children living in Omkoi district, Chiang Mai province.