title: Water and formula fluoride concentrations: significance for infants fed formula.
abstract: The independent contributions of formula and water to the total fluoride (F) intake from the diet of formula-fed infants is not fully documented. Although the precise timing and mechanism by which dental fluorosis occurs has not been fully defined, water F levels can be an important consideration in the risk of dental fluorosis for formula-fed infants. An assessment of 1,308 participants younger than 2 years old revealed that: 81% of homes received public water; 19% received well water; 26% of participants used bottled water; and 11% used some kind of filtration system. In this study, virtually all formulas consumed by the birth cohort and water sources used in the reconstitution of these formulas were assayed for F using a F ion specific electrode and direct read method, except for soy-based formulas, which were analyzed by microdiffusion (modified Taves). Among 78 commercially available bottled waters in Iowa, F levels ranged from 0.02 to 1.36 ppm (mean 0.18 ppm), 83% from 0.02 to 0.16 ppm, 7% from 0.34 to 0.56 ppm, 1% had a F level of 0.88, and 9% had F levels > 1.0 ppm. Among 47 casein (milk)-based formulas, 16 ready-to-feed (RTF) formulas had levels of 0.04-0.55 ppm F (mean 0.17 ppm), 14 liquid concentrates (LC) reconstituted with distilled water had levels of 0.04-0.19 ppm F (mean 0.12 ppm), and 17 powdered concentrates (PC) reconstituted with distilled water had levels of 0.05-0.28 ppm F (mean 0.14 ppm). The 17 soy-based formulas had a range of 0.04-0.47 ppm F (mean 0.26 ppm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Winkle
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kiritsy
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Heilman
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wefel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D007484:Iowa; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry; D017186:Titrimetry; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D008900:Mineral Waters; D005459:Fluorides