You might think of fluoridated water as a good thing—after all, this organic compound is added to our drinking supply for a reason, right?
Video at bottom of this article
Unfortunately, however, the bigger picture isn’t quite so clear: Although water fluoridation has been standard practice since 1945, new research suggests that using it on your teeth might also come with more than one dangerous consequence—especially where your brain is concerned.1
Rodent studies show that fluoride exposure can cause free radical damage to DNA molecules and cells in areas of the brain that are essential for cognition, as well as structural brain changes and phospholipid decreases that correlate to impaired learning ability.2-4
Even more research has shown that fluoride elevates the activity of acetylcholinesterase—an enzyme that breaks down the critical memory-related neurotransmitter acetylcholine—while also altering levels of a number of other neurotransmitters (including dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin) that play a role in your brain’s recall ability.5-6
Scientists speculate that the reason for fluoride’s negative effects on the brain traces back to its role in oxidative damage. As it turns out, even low levels of exposure over a period of 10 weeks can increase free radical loads and sap stores of the crucial antioxidant glutathione, along with other key antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase.7-8
What’s worse, increased fluoride intake may have a direct effect on IQ scores—especially among children. Research indicates that elevated urinary fluoride levels are associated with poorer verbal and performance evaluations in this age group, indicating that increased intake of this compound may have a startlingly negative impact on childhood intelligence development.9-10 In fact, in areas with higher levels of fluoride in drinking water, there is as much as five times the risk of developing a low IQ than in low-fluoride areas.11 But even at these lower levels, research has revealed that fluoride in water can have a significant impact on intelligence quotients.12
In Australia, fluoride levels are mandated at 1ppm of our drinking water, while Canada has already reduced their safe level to .7ppm.
So what can you do to keep fluoride out of your body?
Well, keeping it out of your water with the help of an Alkaway water system is a good place to start—but also, several natural compounds have been shown to counteract fluoride’s effects, too. Animal research shows that melatonin (available as a daily supplement from VRP) can reduce markers of oxidative stress while enhancing the brain’s antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione levels.13-14
Supplementation with iodine has also been shown to support brain health—low levels of this mineral are linked to low IQ risk in children—while facilitating urinary fluoride excretion.15-17 Meanwhile, the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin (both found in VRP’s formula called ATP Cofactors) work in combination to promote maximum iodine absorption and minimum fluoride retention.18
References:
1. Environmental Health Criteria 227: Fluorides. World Health Organization, 2002, Available at: http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc227.htm#5.0. Accessed on: 1-22-10.
2. Chen J, Chen X, Yang K, et al. Studies on DNA damage and apoptosis in rat brain induced by fluoride. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2002 Jul;36(4):222-4.
3. Zhang Z, Xu X, Shen X, et al. Effect of fluoride exposure on synaptic structure of brain areas related to learning-memory in mice. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Jul;28(4):210-2.
4. Guan ZZ, Wang YN, Xiao KQ, et al. Influence of chronic fluorosis on membrane lipids in rat brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1998 Sep-Oct;20(5):537-42.
5. Zhao XL, Wu JH. Actions of sodium fluoride on acetylcholinesterase activities in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 1998 Mar;11(1):1-6.
6. Pereira M, Dombrowski PA, Losso EM, et al. Memory impairment induced by sodium fluoride is associated with changes in brain monoamine levels. Neurotox Res. 2011 Jan;19(1):55-62.
7. Chouhan S, Flora SJ. Effects of fluoride on the tissue oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats: biochemical assays supported by IR spectroscopy data. Toxicology. 2008 Dec 5;254(1-2):61-7.
8. Basha PM, Rai P, Begum S. Evaluation of Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain: A Multigeneration Study. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Jul 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.
9. Rocha-Amador D, Navarro ME, Carrizales L, et al. Decreased intelligence in children and exposure to fluoride and arsenic in drinking water. Cad Saude Publica. 2007;23 Suppl 4:S579-87.
10. Liu M, Qian C. Effect of endemic fluorosis on children’s intelligence development: a Meta analysis. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2008 Dec;10(6):723-5.
11. Tang QQ, Du J, Ma HH, et al. Fluoride and children’s intelligence: a meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Winter;126(1-3):115-20.
12. Ding Y, Yanhuigao, Sun H, et al. The relationships between low levels of urine fluoride on children’s intelligence, dental fluorosis in endemic fluorosis areas in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. J Hazard Mater. 2010 Dec 25. Published Online Ahead of Print.
13. Pant HH, Rao MV. Evaluation of in vitro anti-genotoxic potential of melatonin against arsenic and fluoride in human blood cultures. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2010 Sep;73(6):1333-7.
14. Bharti VK, Srivastava RS. Fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat’s brain and its amelioration by buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) pineal proteins and melatonin. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Aug;130(2):131-40.
15. Santiago-Fernandez P, Torres-Barahona R, Muela-Martinez JA, et al. Intelligence quotient and iodine intake: a cross-sectional study in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Aug;89(8):3851-7.
16. Qian M, Wang D, Watkins WE, et al. The effects of iodine on intelligence in children: a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(1):32-42.
17. Abraham GE. Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increases Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide. Townsend Letter, 2003;238:108-109.
18. Stookey GK. Influence of riboflavin on fluoride metabolism in the rat. J Dent Res. 1973 Jul-Aug;52(4):843.
Video at bottom of this article
Unfortunately, however, the bigger picture isn’t quite so clear: Although water fluoridation has been standard practice since 1945, new research suggests that using it on your teeth might also come with more than one dangerous consequence—especially where your brain is concerned.1
Rodent studies show that fluoride exposure can cause free radical damage to DNA molecules and cells in areas of the brain that are essential for cognition, as well as structural brain changes and phospholipid decreases that correlate to impaired learning ability.2-4
Even more research has shown that fluoride elevates the activity of acetylcholinesterase—an enzyme that breaks down the critical memory-related neurotransmitter acetylcholine—while also altering levels of a number of other neurotransmitters (including dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin) that play a role in your brain’s recall ability.5-6
Scientists speculate that the reason for fluoride’s negative effects on the brain traces back to its role in oxidative damage. As it turns out, even low levels of exposure over a period of 10 weeks can increase free radical loads and sap stores of the crucial antioxidant glutathione, along with other key antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase.7-8
What’s worse, increased fluoride intake may have a direct effect on IQ scores—especially among children. Research indicates that elevated urinary fluoride levels are associated with poorer verbal and performance evaluations in this age group, indicating that increased intake of this compound may have a startlingly negative impact on childhood intelligence development.9-10 In fact, in areas with higher levels of fluoride in drinking water, there is as much as five times the risk of developing a low IQ than in low-fluoride areas.11 But even at these lower levels, research has revealed that fluoride in water can have a significant impact on intelligence quotients.12
In Australia, fluoride levels are mandated at 1ppm of our drinking water, while Canada has already reduced their safe level to .7ppm.
So what can you do to keep fluoride out of your body?
Well, keeping it out of your water with the help of an Alkaway water system is a good place to start—but also, several natural compounds have been shown to counteract fluoride’s effects, too. Animal research shows that melatonin (available as a daily supplement from VRP) can reduce markers of oxidative stress while enhancing the brain’s antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione levels.13-14
Supplementation with iodine has also been shown to support brain health—low levels of this mineral are linked to low IQ risk in children—while facilitating urinary fluoride excretion.15-17 Meanwhile, the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin (both found in VRP’s formula called ATP Cofactors) work in combination to promote maximum iodine absorption and minimum fluoride retention.18
References:
1. Environmental Health Criteria 227: Fluorides. World Health Organization, 2002, Available at: http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc227.htm#5.0. Accessed on: 1-22-10.
2. Chen J, Chen X, Yang K, et al. Studies on DNA damage and apoptosis in rat brain induced by fluoride. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2002 Jul;36(4):222-4.
3. Zhang Z, Xu X, Shen X, et al. Effect of fluoride exposure on synaptic structure of brain areas related to learning-memory in mice. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Jul;28(4):210-2.
4. Guan ZZ, Wang YN, Xiao KQ, et al. Influence of chronic fluorosis on membrane lipids in rat brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1998 Sep-Oct;20(5):537-42.
5. Zhao XL, Wu JH. Actions of sodium fluoride on acetylcholinesterase activities in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 1998 Mar;11(1):1-6.
6. Pereira M, Dombrowski PA, Losso EM, et al. Memory impairment induced by sodium fluoride is associated with changes in brain monoamine levels. Neurotox Res. 2011 Jan;19(1):55-62.
7. Chouhan S, Flora SJ. Effects of fluoride on the tissue oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats: biochemical assays supported by IR spectroscopy data. Toxicology. 2008 Dec 5;254(1-2):61-7.
8. Basha PM, Rai P, Begum S. Evaluation of Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain: A Multigeneration Study. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Jul 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.
9. Rocha-Amador D, Navarro ME, Carrizales L, et al. Decreased intelligence in children and exposure to fluoride and arsenic in drinking water. Cad Saude Publica. 2007;23 Suppl 4:S579-87.
10. Liu M, Qian C. Effect of endemic fluorosis on children’s intelligence development: a Meta analysis. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2008 Dec;10(6):723-5.
11. Tang QQ, Du J, Ma HH, et al. Fluoride and children’s intelligence: a meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Winter;126(1-3):115-20.
12. Ding Y, Yanhuigao, Sun H, et al. The relationships between low levels of urine fluoride on children’s intelligence, dental fluorosis in endemic fluorosis areas in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. J Hazard Mater. 2010 Dec 25. Published Online Ahead of Print.
13. Pant HH, Rao MV. Evaluation of in vitro anti-genotoxic potential of melatonin against arsenic and fluoride in human blood cultures. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2010 Sep;73(6):1333-7.
14. Bharti VK, Srivastava RS. Fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat’s brain and its amelioration by buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) pineal proteins and melatonin. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Aug;130(2):131-40.
15. Santiago-Fernandez P, Torres-Barahona R, Muela-Martinez JA, et al. Intelligence quotient and iodine intake: a cross-sectional study in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Aug;89(8):3851-7.
16. Qian M, Wang D, Watkins WE, et al. The effects of iodine on intelligence in children: a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(1):32-42.
17. Abraham GE. Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increases Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide. Townsend Letter, 2003;238:108-109.
18. Stookey GK. Influence of riboflavin on fluoride metabolism in the rat. J Dent Res. 1973 Jul-Aug;52(4):843.
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