The Relationship between Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes from Gestation to Adulthood-A Systematic Review

The Relationship between Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes from Gestation to Adulthood-A Systematic Review

Chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride may cause health concerns, including in cognitive function. This study reviewed the evidence on the association between fluoride exposure and cognitive outcomes in children from gestation up to 18 years old. A literature search was conducted for studies on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 22
Main Authors: Gopu, Banu Preethi, Azevedo, Liane B, Duckworth, Ralph M, Subramanian, Murali K P, John, Sherley, Zohoori, Fatemeh Vida
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20-12-2022
MDPI
Subjects:
Adult
Age groups
Brain research
Child
Children
Chronic exposure
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Cross-sectional studies
Dental caries
Dental health
Drinking water
Exposure
Female
Fluoridation
Fluorides
Fluorides - adverse effects
Gestation
Humans
Longitudinal studies
Observational studies
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
Subgroups
Systematic Review
Womens health
United States > US
fluoride
systematic review
children
cognitive outcome
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Summary:Chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride may cause health concerns, including in cognitive function. This study reviewed the evidence on the association between fluoride exposure and cognitive outcomes in children from gestation up to 18 years old. A literature search was conducted for studies on pregnant women and children below 18, exposed to any source of fluoride, and assessed with a validated cognitive tool. The data were analyzed using a systematic narrative synthesis approach and by subgroup: study design, age of participants, levels of fluoride exposure and methodological quality. Our search retrieved 15,072 articles, of which 46 met the inclusion criteria. Only 6 of the studies had a longitudinal design; the remainder were cross-sectional. The levels of fluoride exposure were ≥2 mg/L in 27 studies and <2 mg/L in 13 studies; 6 studies did not report levels of fluoride exposure. Only 1 of 5 studies graded as excellent quality showed a negative association between fluoride exposure and cognitive outcomes, whereas 30 of 34 poor and fair quality studies reported a negative association. The overall evidence from this review suggests that high fluoride exposure might be associated with negative cognitive outcomes in children. However, more longitudinal studies with high methodological quality are needed on this topic.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph20010022