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Patterns of dietary fluoride supplement use during infancy
S M Levy1, M C Kiritsy, S L Slager
1Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. steven-levy@uiowa.edu
Insights
Infant dietary fluoride supplement use remained consistent, but individual patterns varied. Actual daily fluoride intake was lower than recommended levels, even when accounting for missed doses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Dental Health
Background:
- Dietary fluoride supplements are crucial for preventing early childhood caries.
- Understanding infant fluoride supplement usage patterns is essential for public health recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the patterns of dietary fluoride supplement use in infants.
- To analyze the frequency, dosage, and estimated daily intake of fluoride supplements during the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort of 1,072 infants was studied via mail surveys at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
- Data collected included supplement usage, duration, frequency, and dosage.
- Statistical analysis was performed on usage patterns and estimated daily fluoride intake.
Main Results:
- Fluoride supplement use ranged from 12.1% to 16.5% throughout the first year.
- Mean daily fluoride intake, considering missed doses, was consistently below the recommended 0.25 mg/day.
- Infants with more educated parents were more likely to receive fluoride supplements.
Conclusions:
- While average fluoride supplement use was consistent, individual usage varied significantly.
- Actual mean daily fluoride intake was substantially lower than recommended levels.
- Parental education level influenced the likelihood of infants receiving fluoride supplements.
Objectives:
This paper reports on patterns of dietary fluoride supplement use during infancy.
Methods:
Data were collected by mail for a birth cohort (n = 1,072) studied at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age.
Results:
Percentages using supplements were 13.7 at 6 weeks, 13.4 at 3 months, 16.5 at 6 months, 13.0 at 9 months, and 12.1 at 12 months. Among those receiving supplements, mean proportions of weeks that supplements were received during the different time periods varied from 0.59 to 0.80. Number of days per week receiving supplements averaged 4.8 to 5.0. Mean fluoride dosages when supplements were received were 0.22 mg to 0.24 mg. Estimated average daily fluoride ingestion per day (among those receiving supplements during that time period and factoring in those days and weeks that supplements were not received) was 0.11 mg at 6 weeks, 0.15 mg at 3 months, 0.12 mg at 6 months, 0.11 mg at 9 months, and 0.14 mg at 12 months. Among the subset of 129 children with complete data at all time points who used supplements sometime during their first year of life, mean annual daily supplement dosage was 0.07 mg fluoride, with 75 percent having less than or equal to 0.10 mg. Those infants with mothers and fathers with more education were more likely to receive supplements.
Conclusions:
Group average use of fluoride supplements was fairly consistent over the 12 months; however, individual patterns varied substantially. Estimated actual mean daily fluoride intake when including days that supplements were not received was substantially less than the recommended 0.25 mg per day.