Can we protect our children's development?

Introduction

Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water and food, although it is also produced synthetically for use in drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes and various chemical products. 

For decades, fluoride has been used to prevent tooth decay by adding it to drinking water and dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. However, in recent years, concern has grown about its adverse effects on health, particularly on the neurological development of children. Several studies have revealed that prolonged exposure or exposure to high levels of fluoride could be related to neurotoxicity and, in some cases, to neurodevelopmental pathologies such as autism or other neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Water fluoridation (the controlled addition of fluoride to public water supplies during treatment) began in the United States in 1945, when public health authorities claimed that adding fluoride to drinking water would reduce tooth decay in the population. At the time, they were relying on a “statistical correlation” between this naturally occurring chemical, present in some water sources, and a decrease in tooth decay. The measure was initially promoted as a revolutionary advance for dental health, and was soon adopted in many other countries around the world.

However, since its implementation, controversies have arisen over the safety of fluoride. One problem is that dental fluorosis, an irreversible condition that damages tooth enamel, can occur even with relatively low levels of exposure to this chemical. Even more worrying is the growing evidence that this chemical can negatively affect the brain, especially in early development.

Concern about this element has been growing in recent years and more and more countries are questioning water fluoridation based on recent scientific findings showing that prolonged exposure could be harmful, especially during pregnancy and childhood, key periods for brain development.

Today, several European countries, including Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, have banned or suspended water fluoridation due to potential adverse health effects. In countries such as the United States, however, fluoridation remains a common practice. However, growing evidence of the chemical's neurotoxic effects has led several American groups and scientists to question the need for its addition to drinking water, pointing out that the risks may outweigh the benefits. 

Exposure to fluoride

This chemical is found naturally in water and in some foods, such as tea, fish, meat, milk, eggs, fruits and cereals. It is also artificially added in toothpastes (1,000 to 1,500 ppm fluoride), mouthwashes (230-900 ppm fluoride), fluorinated salt (0.25 mg fluoride per gram of salt) and can be found in some medicines, non-stick materials used in frying pans, fertilizers, glass, fluorinated hydrocarbons, oil refineries… 

A significant amount of this chemical comes from exposure to it and from the consumption of some foods with a high content. However, the main source of intake of this chemical is the water we drink regularly and its concentration depends on the geographic region in which we live. The water with the highest concentration of fluoride corresponds to water resources located in mountainous areas or with geological deposits of marine origin.

Studies carried out in different countries show that in areas with high concentrations of fluoride in the water, a significant proportion of the population suffers from problems with bones, teeth (fluorosis) and neurological development. In recent years, scientists have focused on the toxic effects of the chemical on the nervous system.

Fluoride is mainly absorbed through the digestive tract. 75-90% is absorbed in the stomach and intestines and transported to different tissues of the body, causing damage such as fluorosis. In addition, it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, producing biochemical and functional changes in the nervous system and the placenta, which can affect the neurological development of the future baby.

Exposure to this chemical in the prenatal and neonatal stages is much more dangerous: the toxic effect is greater since the different defense mechanisms are not fully developed and the blood-brain barrier is more permeable.

Fluoride has been observed to be excreted in urine, with high levels being found in the urine of people who consume water with high concentrations of this chemical.

Fluoride and its impact on the nervous system. How does this chemical affect the brain?

This chemical is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to reach the brain. Even at low doses, it accumulates in neural tissues, including the pineal gland, and can disrupt the central nervous system.  

It is neurotoxic and, although all the mechanisms of its neurotoxicity are still unknown, it is known that it produces oxidative stress and activates glial cells, triggering neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and neuronal apoptosis in critical brain areas such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, cerebellum, motor cortices, striatum... and altering their functioning. Some studies show that a low dose of this chemical of 0.5 μmol/L (10 μg/L) is sufficient to induce lipid peroxidation, producing biochemical changes in brain cells, and a concentration of 3 μmol/L (57 μg/L) produces inflammation of brain cells.

It also modifies the metabolism of neurotransmitters, the energy metabolism of neurons (by the glucose transporter GLUT1), produces a dysfunction of important proteins that are part of the respiratory chain of neurons and a decrease in mitochondria.

Excessive exposure to fluoride has been found to cause harmful effects such as permanent damage to all brain structures, reduced IQ, impaired learning and memory ability, and behavioral problems.  

One of the mechanisms through which this chemical affects the brain is by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for repairing DNA, which leads to mutations and structural damage in nerve cells. This is especially dangerous during prenatal development and the first years of life, since during these stages the brain is in a highly vulnerable state.

Prolonged prenatal exposure during gestation, or in early stages of development, can produce biochemical, physiological and functional changes in neurons, glial cells and, in general, in the nervous system of the fetus and the baby, related to adverse effects on neurocognitive development and memory and learning disorders. 

Below are some of the effects of fluoride reported in different animal and human studies:

• Variation in the levels of some neurotransmitters (mainly glutamatergic neurotransmitters). There are precise mechanisms that regulate their synthesis and release; this is important since changes in the concentration of any neurotransmitter during development can have permanent neurological consequences that manifest in adulthood.

• Reduction in the number of acetylcholine receptors.

• Increased levels of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.

• Alterations in brain morphology and biochemistry, affecting neurological development and, therefore, functions related to cognitive processes, such as learning and memory.

• Lipid lowering.

• Significant changes in the morphology of the hippocampus, amygdala, cortex and cerebellum.

• Increased formation of amyloid plaques (usually found in patients with Alzheimer's disease)

• Alteration of protein synthesis in the brain, leading to degenerative changes in neurons, varying degrees of loss of gray matter, and changes in Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex. 

• Alteration of mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticulum, chromatin clumping, damage to the nuclear membrane and the synaptic membrane, decrease in the number of synapses, mitochondria, microtubules and synaptic vesicles, related to a decrease in neuronal connections and abnormal synaptic function, influencing cognitive development.

Neuroinflammation and brain toxicity

The brain is extremely sensitive to chemical imbalances. The chemical can trigger the activation of microglia, immune system cells in the nervous system, and induce an inflammatory response, known as neuroinflammation. This neuroinflammation can lead to cognitive damage, behavioral disturbances, and impaired learning.

In the long term, it could generate excessive inflammation that is harmful to neurons. This chronic neuroinflammation could be related to various developmental and neurodegenerative pathologies, such as autism, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

Animal studies have shown that chronic exposure to fluoride can lead to impairment of memory, learning ability and other essential cognitive processes, reinforcing the theory that it is neurotoxic.

Fluoride and neurodevelopmental diseases

One of the most alarming aspects of exposure to this chemical is its possible relationship with autism, a condition that has seen a significant increase in prevalence in recent decades. 

Recent research suggests that this chemical may influence the risk of developing autism through several mechanisms. First, fluoride exposure during pregnancy may interfere with fetal brain development, as it crosses the placenta and can cause damage to developing nerve cells.

Fluoride can also interfere with the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate, which are essential for the proper development of neural connections. In people with autism, imbalances in these have been observed, suggesting that fluoride exposure could be a risk factor.

Additionally, animal studies have shown that this chemical can alter gene expression in the brain, which may affect neurological development and increase susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Several studies have attempted to establish a link between fluoride exposure and the increased prevalence of autism. A 2017 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that mothers exposed to high levels of this chemical during pregnancy were more likely to have children with cognitive development problems and lower IQs.

Another study in 2021 suggested that prenatal exposure to fluoride may be linked to an increased risk of developing autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings have led some researchers to propose that water fluoridation should be reviewed and restricted, especially in pregnant women and young children.

Although further studies are needed to confirm these findings, the evidence accumulated so far indicates that fluoride could be an environmental factor that increases the risk of developing autism.

Impact on other neurodevelopmental pathologies

This chemical is not only related to autism, but also to other neurodevelopmental pathologies such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and cognitive impairment in general.

Fluoride and ADHD

ADHD is a condition characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty concentrating. Recent studies have suggested that exposure to fluoride during prenatal development and infancy may increase the risk of developing ADHD. A 2019 study found that children exposed to high levels of fluoride in the womb were more likely to show ADHD symptoms throughout their childhood.

IQ and learning

One of the most consistent findings in fluoride research is its relationship to a decrease in IQ. Several studies in children found a relationship between high levels of this chemical in drinking water and a decrease in IQ in children. A decrease in learning ability, concentration, and a low level of visual-spatial organization have also been observed, which affects reading and writing skills.

These results reinforce the idea that fluoride is a neurotoxin that can seriously affect cognitive development.

Alzheimer's

Fluoride exposure increases the production of free radicals in the brain by activating different metabolic pathways that have been linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Reducing exposure to fluoride

Since the chemical is present in many sources, it is important to take steps to reduce exposure, especially for pregnant women, infants and young children. 

The main route of exposure is the digestive tract and the main source of exposure is drinking water, although it may also be present in some foods such as tea, fish, meat, cereals, eggs, fruits and artificially enriched products such as salt. fluoridated. 

Below are some recommendations to reduce exposure to fluoride.

• Filter tap water:The use of water treatment systems that remove fluoride may be an effective option to reduce exposure in locations where fluoride continues to be added during the drinking water treatment process.
• Drink bottled water without fluoride: Some brands of bottled water have low levels of fluoride, which may be a safer alternative if you live in an area where fluoride is present. fluoridates water and tap water cannot be filtered.
• Avoid excessive use of dental products containing fluoride: The use of natural fluoride-free toothpastes is recommended, especially in young children, to avoid exposure to fluoride and accidental ingestion.
• Avoid fluoridated salt
• Avoid processed foods and drinks: Many processed products contain fluoride, especially those that use fluoridated water in their production.

Fluoride in Drinking Water: Risks and Debate in the U.S.

Fluoride, commonly added to drinking water for tooth decay prevention, is being reconsidered in terms of safety due to possible adverse effects on children's brain development. 

The tolerable upper limit for fluoride (F-) is estimated to be 0.12 mg/kg/day, which would be equivalent to about 5 mg/day for children and 7 mg/day for adults. However, fluoride intake is considered to be less than 0.05 mg/kg/day (0.01 mg/kg/day for children). 

The average exposure to fluoride in the population could vary from 3–4.4 mg/day in areas with low fluoride concentrations to 8.4 mg (12.1 +/− 4.1 from water and 3.4 +/− 2.43 mg from diet) or even 14–19 mg in areas with high concentrations of the chemical in question.

In several European countries, the maximum permitted concentration of fluoride in tap water is 1.5 mg/L, and the usual concentration is estimated to vary between 0.3 and 0.7 mg/L. On the other hand, mineral waters can be found with fluoride concentrations of up to 5 mg/L. 

Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that drinking water contain up to 0.7 mg/L of fluoride to maximize dental benefits and minimize the risks of dental fluorosis. However, recent research suggests that even at these levels, fluoride exposure may negatively affect brain development. This has sparked an intense debate in the United States about whether currently accepted fluoride concentrations are too high and whether water fluoridation should be phased out.

Conclusion

Fluoride, long hailed as a breakthrough in dental health, has been shown to have adverse effects on neurological health, especially on childhood development. Mounting scientific evidence suggests that fluoride exposure, particularly through drinking water, may be linked to an increased risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental pathologies, such as ADHD and cognitive decline.

While water fluoridation remains a practice advocated by many public health authorities, recent studies suggest it may be time to reevaluate this policy, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. By reducing exposure to this chemical, we can help protect the neurological development of future generations.

Article written by Enevia Health Collaborator: Monica Barco 

PhD in Chemistry and expert in water analysis and treatment

water@nutribionatur.com

Contact: https://www.subscribepage.com/consultoria-de-agua

Share this information with anyone who may be interested, since at Enevia, we care about your health!

To learn more about these topics, we invite you to visit our blog, where you can find articles, information of interest and scientific advances in health, enter the blog through: https://test.eneviahealth.com/blog/

At Enevia we offer specialized consulting services and different tests that can guide you in different areas such as neurology, genetics, nutrition and general medicine, as well as help you make the right decisions and analyze medical tests to achieve effective treatment for the pathologies that you may suffer from.

Enter our website through www.eneviacare.com and www.eneviahealth.com and you will be able to find the services that we can offer you.

At Enevia, we are your ally in health!