Investigating Relationship between Fluoride ION Concentration in Mother and Cord Blood Serum

In a country like India, where fluorosis is endemic, the role in the movement of fluoride from mother to the fetus is still unclear, as whether fluoride intake of maternal blood affects the concentration of fluoride found in the fetus.

An attempt to prove the transfer of fluoride from mother to the foetus by estimating the fluoride ion concentration in mother and cord blood serum at the time of parturition.

45 pregnant women were randomly selected visiting a private Maternity Hospital of Meerut City. Mother and cord blood samples were collected at the time of delivery, and fluoride ion concentration was analyzed using ion selective electrode method in the serum samples.

The results show a significant relationship between the fluoride ion concentrations in mother and cord blood serum. The concentration of fluoride is high in mother blood serum as compare to the cord blood serum. The present study shows that there exists a transplacental passage of fluoride irrespective of the amount of fluoride consumed during the time of pregnancy; placenta does not act as a barrier for the transfer of fluoride to the foetus.