NTC Fluoride

Fluoride is found in many things around us. It is in our toothpaste, water and
tea to name just a few. In the 1930's it was used to treat over-active thyroid
glands. In 1937 the use of fluorotyrosine further emphasized its effectiveness.
Many patients suffered complete loss of thyroid funciton with this treatment.
Consequently this drug was given a new role and renamed as Pardinon and
became used as a pesticide.

Fluoride acts as an enzyme poison. Enzymes are protein compounds that
speed up biochemical processes. There are chains of amino acids within our
body that make up these complex proteins. These complex proteins are linked
to simple ones called amides. It is within the amides that fluoride reacts by
splitting and distorting them. This damages the enzymes and their activity.

Fluoride is cumulative and builds up steadily in our bodies through what we eat
and breath. The use of fluoride toothpastes and dental fluoride teeth
treatments only further assault or already overloaded bodies. It is thought that
the body can only eliminate 1/2 of the total amount taken in so as you age the
amount being stored increases.

Why is all this important? The changes in the protein structure create an issue
within our body. It creates proteins that the body does not recognize so
consequently it tries to get rid of them by creating antibodies that will lead to an
autoimmune reaction. Common forms of thyroid autoimmune (AI) are
Hashimotos (underactive AI) and Graves (over-active AI).

The enzyme poisoning effect can eventually extend to our genes - DNA cannot
repair itself and chromosomes are damaged. This can have all kinds of
ramifications from fetal development to cancer.

Applying fluoride to thyroid function we can walk through these steps:

1. There is an enzyme process that occurs within the thyroid gland. This occurs
when iodine attaches to the amino acid tyrosine. It is then converted into
thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Fluoride slows down
this process.

2. The toxic effect of fluoride will stimulate the "G" proteins who's normal
function is to control the uptake of substances into the body's cells. The effect
of this will be to switch off the uptake of the active thyroid hormone into the
cells. This will cause fatigue and a slowing of the metabolism in the body.

3. Fluoride also inhibits the TSH output from the pituitary gland. This reduces
the amount of thyroid hormones being put out.

4. Another issue with fluoride is due to its competition for receptor sites in the
thyroid gland that respond to TSH. When less TSH reaches the gland less
thyroid hormone is created. This will cause a slow decline into hypothyroidism.

Finally, fluoride also displaces iodine. Iodine is also a key nutrient in the
manufacturing of thyroid hormones (see page on iodine & the thyroid). The
resulting iodine deficiency not only effects the thyroid gland but all parts of the
body that depend on thyroid hormone to operate at full capacity.

Great website of the history of fluoride, thyroid & Iodine -
History of the fluoride / iodine antagonism