A Review on Fluoride-Induced Hepato-Renal Toxicity and the Ameliorative Effects of Vitamin D and Tamarindus indica in Albino Rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/ijpsr.v2i1.6.3139-342XKeywords:
Fluoride toxicity, Hepatotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity, Vitamin D, Tamarindus indica, Oxidative stress, Albino rats, AntioxidantsAbstract
The mineralisation of bones and teeth requires fluoride, a trace element. When consumed at acceptable amounts, fluoride helps bones and teeth. Overexposure to fluoride is a global public health hazard due to drinking water contamination, industrial emissions, food sources, and agricultural activities. We estimate that about 200 million people globally are exposed to high fluoride concentrations in endemic fluoride regions including Asia, Africa, and India. Excessive fluoride exposure causes skeletal and dental fluorosis, but emerging evidence suggests it also poisons soft tissues like the liver and kidneys. The liver is the main metabolic and detoxifying organ and the kidneys are the main fluoride excretion organ, therefore they are highly vulnerable to fluoride-induced harm. Experimental data suggest that excessive fluoride exposure causes oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and calcium homeostasis disruption, which leads to high serum hepatic enzyme levels, abnormal renal biomarker levels, lipid peroxidation, endogenous antioxidant enzyme depletion, and many liver and kidney histopathological changes. This is why much study has focused on safe dietary and phytotherapeutic strategies to reduce organ damage from high fluoride intake. Vitamin D's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-apoptotic characteristics may be beneficial. Vitamin D promotes cellular defence systems to protect mitochondria and boost antioxidant capability in addition to regulating calcium and phosphate metabolism. Polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, tartaric acid, vitamins, and minerals are found in tamarind. Many studies show that tamarind has hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antioxidant, metal-chelating, and anti-inflammatory characteristics that may reduce fluoride-induced oxidative damage. This review summarises the toxicokinetics of fluoride, the molecular mechanisms of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, the biochemical and histopathological changes caused by fluoride, and the protective effects of vitamin D and tamarind. The paper also discusses antioxidant therapy advances, information gaps in both domains, and how to adapt experimental findings into clinical treatment for persistent fluorosis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Shalini Yadav, Dr. Prem Sagar (Author)
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