Is Fluoride the Culprit? Revisiting Evidence on Environmental Origins of Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology (CKDu): A Narrative Review.

ABSTRACT: Fluoride is increasingly discussed as a geogenic risk factor for chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu); an epidemic of kidney disease is affecting hot tropical farming communities worldwide. Emerging evidence continues to support the association between high-fluoride exposure and kidney injury, particularly in regions with high fluoride levels. However, while fluoride's geogenic nature leads to prolonged exposure through water and food sources, the direct impact on kidney health remains incompletely understood. This review explores the relationship between fluoride exposure and adverse kidney health outcomes, especially in the context of CKDu, synthesizing findings from epidemiological studies conducted worldwide. While a broad range of studies show widespread dental fluorosi

SUBMITTER: Gunasekara TDKSC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656354 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature