Alcoholic drinks are relatively important element of diet of many people and the main source of exogenous ethyl alcohol. Due to the prevalence and extensiveness of alcohol consumption, alcoholic drinks should also be treated as a potential source of other xenobiotics that should be taken into account when balancing diets. Due to the unceasing controversy regarding the use of fluorine compounds in prevention of dental caries and the related risk of adverse effects (fluorosis), the assessment of fluoride contents in diet elements, including alcoholic drinks, is of utmost importance. A low number of papers regarding the fluoride levels in alcoholic drinks has incented us to pursue a study to elucidate the importance of alcoholic drinks as a potential source of dietary fluoride.

The aim of the study was to determine the role of alcoholic drinks as a potential source of dietary fluoride by means of measuring fluoride levels in selected alcoholic drinks available on Polish market and diverse in terms of the percentage content of ethanol.

The study was conducted on low- medium- and high-alcohol content drinks available on Polish market and offered by different manufacturers, both Polish and foreign (beers, wines, liqueurs, rums, vodkas). Measurements of fluoride concentrations in individual samples were carried out by a potentiometric method using a fluoride ion-selective electrode (Orion 9409 BN, Thermo Scientific, USA). Statistical analysis of the results was based on non-parametric tests (Friedman ANOVA test and Mann-Whitney U test). Differences were considered statistically significant for p < 0.05. In addition, a survey was conducted among the students of the Pomeranian Medical University to assess the consumption profile regarding alcoholic drinks of varied percentage content of ethanol.

The highest fluoride levels were determined in low-percentage drinks (less than 10% v/v of ethanol), while the lowest fluoride levels were determined in high-percentage drinks (above 40% v/v). Fluoride levels in alcoholic drinks with alcohol contents of less than 10% and 10-20% were higher, in a statistically significant manner, than these in drinks with alcohol contents of 20-40% and above 40%. In terms of types of alcoholic drinks, highest fluoride levels were determined in beers and wines, while the lowest levels were determined in vodkas. Fluoride levels in both beers and wines were higher, in a statistically significant manner, than the levels in vodkas.

Fluoride is present in all types of alcoholic drinks. Low-percentage alcoholic drinks are characterized by significantly higher levels of fluoride compared to high-percentage drinks. Due to the fact that low-percentage alcoholic drinks (beers, wines) are consumed in significantly larger quantities than high-percentage alcohols (rums, vodkas), they should be considered a source of significant amounts of dietary fluoride.

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