Prenatal fluoride exposure associated with neurobehavioral problems in young children: JAMA Study

According to a new study led by University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions researchers, higher fluoride levels in pregnant women are linked to increased odds of their children exhibiting neurobehavioral problems at age 3.

The findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Exposure to fluoride during pregnancy has been associated with potentially harmful effects on children's neurobehavioral development. The developing fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to environmental exposures, and fluoride has been shown to cross the placental barrier and interfere with neurodevelopmental processes.

Studies have suggested that higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy may lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including lower cognitive function, decreased IQ scores, and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

In the study, researchers utilized data from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors study to examine the impact of fluoride exposure during pregnancy on children's neurobehavioral development.

They collected urine samples from participants in their third trimester and assessed urinary fluoride levels, a common measure of fluoride exposure. To ensure accurate results, the researchers also accounted for potential lead contamination from water pipes.

When the children reached age 3, their mothers completed the Preschool Child Behavior Checklist, revealing that higher fluoride exposure during pregnancy was associated with increased neurobehavioral problems in the children.

“There is no known benefit of fluoride consumption to the developing fetus. But we do know that there is possibly a risk to their developing brain. We found that each 0.68 milligrams per litre increase in fluoride levels in the pregnant women’s urine was associated with nearly double the odds of children scoring in the clinical or borderline clinical range for neurobehavioral problems at age 3, based on their mother’s reporting,” said study’s lead investigator Ashley Malin.

Reference: Malin AJ, Eckel SP, Hu H, et al. Maternal Urinary Fluoride and Child Neurobehavior at Age 36 Months. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(5):e2411987. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11987