Journal Summaries in Pediatrics
Association between maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores in offspring in Canada, JAMA — Green R, Lanphear B, Hornung R, et al.
In a prospective multicenter birth cohort study that used information from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals cohort, researchers investigated the correlation between fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores in a prospective birth cohort. In areas with fluoridated tap water (n = 141) vs nonfluoridated water (n = 228), women living in the former area had significantly higher mean (SD) maternal urinary fluoride (MUFSG) concentrations and fluoride consumption levels. Girls exhibited significantly greater mean (SD) Full-Scale IQ scores than boys. A notable synergy between child gender and MUFSG was observed symbolizing a differential relation between boys and girls. A 1-mg/L rise in MUFSG was related to a 4.49-point lower IQ score in boys, although, there was no statistically important correlation with IQ scores in girls. A 1-mg higher daily consumption of fluoride among pregnant women was related to a 3.66 lower IQ score in boys and girls. Thus, in children aged 3 to 4 years, maternal exposure to greater levels of fluoride during pregnancy was correlated with lower IQ scores. These findings intimate the possible requirement to decrease fluoride consumption during pregnancy.
Read the full article on JAMA
*Original article online at https://www.mdlinx.com/journal-summaries/maternal-fluoride-exposure-pregnancy-iq-scores/2019/08/23/7576280/?spec=pediatrics