Introduction
Fluoride (F) is a common therapeutic agent used for health
improvement of the teeth and bones by means of water
fluoridation, F-containing dental products and food supple-
ments. Public health officials consider water fluoridation as
one of the ten greatest achievements of the twentieth century
in disease prevention along with purification of drinking
water, pasteurization of food products, and immunization
against infectious diseases. However, presently there are no
convincing proofs on the necessity of F for normal human
growth and development. In contrast, numerous investiga-
tions have established various harmful effects of F on the
living organisms. In many parts of the world, consumption
of water with high F content leads to development of
fluorosis, a slow degenerative disease associated with
alterations in the teeth and bones, neurological defects,
infertility, and mental retardation [1–3]. In developed
countries, uncontrolled use of fluoridated water and F-
containing products by human population has been linked
to increased risk of dental fluorosis, bone fractures, and
decreased thyroid functions. The molecular mechanisms
underlying F toxicity are different by nature and include
the stimulation of G protein-dependent transduction path-
ways, oxidative stress, suppression of glycolysis, inhibition
of protein phosphatases, activation of caspases, alterations
in the ratio of anti-apoptotic/pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins,
expression of apoptosis-related genes, endoplasmic reticulum
stress, and disturbances in protein synthesis eventually leading
to cell death [4, 5].