title: Water fluoridation and the sudden infant death syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether exposure to fluoridated water supplies prenatally or postnatally at the time of death increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide, case-control study, with infant's water fluoridation status determined from census area unit information for mother's usual address at the time of the infant's birth, infant's usual address at the time of death / nominated sleep and address where infant died / was at nominated sleep. SIDS risk associated with fluoride exposure postnatally was assessed according to method of infant feeding (breast or reconstituted formula), for the two days prior to infant's death / nominated sleep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants exposed to fluoridated water supplies during pregnancy were not at increased risk for SIDS, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.19 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82, 1.74). For breast-fed infants at the time of death / nominated sleep, fluoridated water exposure was not associated with an increased risk for SIDS, adjusted OR 1.09 (95% CI 0.66, 1.79). Similarly, 'fluoridated' formula feeding, when compared with 'unfluoridated' formula feeding, showed no increased risk of SIDS, adjusted OR 1.25 (95% CI 0.73, 2.13). There was no evidence of an interaction between fluoridation and infant feeding for the last two days (chi2 = 0.171, df = 1, p = 0.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to a fluoridated water supply prenatally or postnatally at the time of death did not affect the relative risk for SIDS.
authors.affiliation: Community Paediatric Unit, Christchurch. childhealth@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schluter
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Becroft
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scragg
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hassall
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*