Researchers are interested in studying fluoride and it’s possible benefits and risks due to it commonly being in water supplies of communities. This is because fluoride is known to help prevent cavities. Even so, some question if putting fluoride in everyone’s water is the right thing to do as some people could experience problems from the water.
For example, several studies have shown Large Amounts of Fluoride Consumed by Young Children Leads to Fluorosis. Hence, it is beneficial to minimize fluoride exposure to young children. Others have looked at the opposite end of the age spectrum: old people. Researchers in Sweden have investigated the possibility that fluoride in the water can lead to additional hip fractures.
The study consisted of a large amount of Swedish residents who were exposured to fluoride levels with the researchers testing a hypothesis that there is an association between fluoride level in drinking water and the risk of hip fracture. The study appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.
The researchers included all of those born in Sweden between January 1, 1900 and December 31, 1919, who were currently still alive and living in their municipality of birth. A total of 473,277 participants were used and their information was linked with several Swedish data sources on the population. Further it was possible to group drinking water fluoride exposure into 4 categories: very low < 0.3mg/L, low 0.3 – 0.69mg/L, medium 0.7 – 1.5 mg/L and high > 1.5mg/L.
The researchers found no association between chronic fluoride exposure and the possible risk of hip fracture in this Swedish study. Hence, it appears that chronic fluoride exposure from drinking water does not appear to cause additional hip fractures. The researchers feel other potential health risks of chronic fluoride exposure from drinking water should be studied and explored.
Source:
P. Näsman, J. Ekstrand, F. Granath, A. Ekbom, and C.M. Fored. Estimated Drinking Water Fluoride Exposure and Risk of Hip Fracture: A Cohort Study. Journal of Dental Research, October 2013.