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Interrelationships between Magnesium and Fluoride in Chicks^1,2,

Departments of Poultry Science and Biochemistry, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana

Two factorial experiments were conducted with chicks to investigate a possible interrelationship between high levels of dietary fluoride and magnesium. The first experiment consisted of two levels of supplemental fluoride (none and 0.08%) and two levels of supplemental magnesium (none and 0.25%). The second experiment included the same levels of fluoride and magnesium duplicated on two levels of dietary phosphorus (0.7 and 1.0%). The following observations were made:

1. A level of 0.08% of supplemental fluoride from sodium fluoride reduced growth rate, but did not appear to affect bone ash, bone calcium, bone phosphorus, plasma magnesium or plasma inorganic phosphorus.

2. A level of 0.25% of supplemental magnesium from magnesium carbonate increased plasma magnesium, but did not influence any of the other variables measured.

3. The inclusion of 0.08% of fluoride and 0.25% of magnesium in the same diet caused a greater depression in growth than fluoride alone. Furthermore, the addition of both fluoride and magnesium to the diet resulted in a characteristic leg weakness, reduced bone ash, and a reduction in both the calcium and phosphorus content of the bone. The leg weakness and bone changes were not observed when the fluoride or magnesium was added singly to the diet.

4. Increasing the phosphorus content of the diet from 0.7 to 1.0% was without effect in altering the toxicity of fluoride or the magnesium x fluoride interrelationship.

² This investigation was supported in part by grant A-4740 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.

³ Present address: Canada Department of Agriculture, Nappan, Nova Scotia.

Manuscript received 26 June 1961.