Fluoride Exposure and Children’s IQ Scores

Previous meta-analyses suggest that fluoride exposure is adversely associated with children's IQ scores. An individual's total fluoride exposure comes primarily from fluoride in drinking water, food, and beverages.

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies investigating children's IQ scores and prenatal or postnatal fluoride exposure. Data Sources: BIOSIS, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang, searched through October 2023. Study Selection: Studies reporting children's IQ scores, fluoride exposure, and effect sizes. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were extracted into the Health Assessment Workplace Collaborative system. Study quality was evaluated using the OHAT risk-of-bias tool. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) and regression coefficients were estimated with random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures: Children's IQ scores.