Interaction of fluorine, calcium and iodine on weight of rats

Abstract

To study the interaction of fluorine (F), calcium (Ca) and iodine (I) on body weight of rats. One-month-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups: moderate concentrations of F, Ca, I (group 1); moderate concentrations of F, I and high concentration of Ca (group 2); moderate concentrations of Ca, I and high concentration of F (group 3); moderate concentration of I and high concentrations of F, Ca (group 4); moderate concentrations of F, Ca and low concentration of I (group 5); moderate concentration of F,high concentration of Ca and low concentration of I (group 6); moderate concentration of Ca, high concentration of F and low concentration of I (group 7); high concentrations of F, Ca and low concentration of I (group 8) based on 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. The moderate concentration of F was 90 microg/d and the high concentration of F was 2700 microg/d. The moderate Ca concentration was 13 mg/d and the high Ca concentration was 260 mg/d. The moderate concentration of I was 3.5 microg/d and the low concentration of I was 0.23 microg/d. After twenty weeks, body weight was measured. According to the results of factorial ANOVA, significant interaction effects of F with Ca were found (F = 5.933, P = 0.017). The empty body weight was measured at the end of the fifth month. When both iodine and fluorine were at the optimal level, the weight of group 2 [(262.5 +/- 47.1) g] and group 1 [(307.9 +/- 55.0) g] showed significant difference (t = 4.24, P < 0.05). When both iodine and fluorine were at low level, the weight of group 6 [(248.8 +/- 30.0) g] and group 5 [(293.3 +/- 19.7) g] showed significant difference (t = 4.16, P < 0.05). Animals with optimal iodine and calcium [(269.3 +/- 27.3) g] showed significant difference compared to the weight of low level iodine and optimal fluorine [(307.9 +/- 55.0) g]. When the low level iodine and optimal calcium were applied, weight of group 7 [(261.9 +/- 31.3) g] and group 5 [(293.3 +/- 19.7) g] showed significant difference. (t = 2.94, P < 0.05). Interaction effects of F with Ca were found on body weight in rats.