Seasonal variation of fluoride intake by children in a subtropical region

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Y B O Lima1, J A Cury

  • 1Faculty of Dentistry of Piracicaba, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil.

Caries Research
|August 20, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This study evaluated fluoride intake in Brazilian children, finding seasonal variations in diet did not significantly alter intake. However, adjusted data indicated higher fluoride consumption in warmer months, a factor potentially relevant for tropical climates.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

  • Optimal fluoride concentrations for drinking water, established for temperate climates, may not be suitable for tropical and subtropical regions.
  • Fluoride intake is influenced by dietary habits and environmental factors, necessitating climate-specific evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the daily fluoride intake of young children (20-30 months) in a subtropical, fluoridated community in Brazil.
  • To investigate seasonal variations in fluoride intake from both food and beverages.
  • To determine the relevance of these variations for public health recommendations in different climates.

Main Methods:

  • Duplicate-plate method used to collect food and beverage samples over two days in each of the four seasons.
  • Analysis of fluoride content in collected samples.
  • Statistical analysis of daily fluoride intake data, with adjustments for diet volume and drinking water concentration.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant difference in daily fluoride intake was observed across the four seasons (p>0.05).
  • Adjusted data revealed a statistically significant higher fluoride intake during the spring-summer seasons compared to fall-winter (p<0.05).
  • Calculated fluoride dose was approximately 19% higher during warmer seasons.

Conclusions:

  • While seasonal fluoride intake variations were not significant in this subtropical Brazilian community, they highlight potential concerns.
  • The observed increase in fluoride intake during warmer months could be more relevant in genuine tropical climates.
  • This study underscores the need for climate-specific considerations in public health policies regarding water fluoridation.

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