Pregnant women who avoided fluoride fared better

A published study of pregnant women in India found that those who avoided fluoride in water and other foods enjoyed the benefits of decreased rates of anemia, fewer pre-term births, and enhanced birth weight of their babies.
For the study, 250 women were divided into two groups. One group avoided fluoride in water, as well as in food and other sources. The control group were not told to avoid fluoride.
The women in both groups took iron and folic acid supplements.
According to the study, published in Current Science in May 2010 and reported on in Water Online on September 2, the group who avoided the fluoride had considerably fewer pre-term and low birth weight babies. Two still births occurred in the control group, and none in the experimental group.
According to the Water Online report, “fluoride avoidance regenerated the intestinal lining which enhanced the absorption of nutrients as evidenced by the reduction in urinary fluoride followed by a rise in hemoglobin levels.”
A presentation made at the 2009 American Public Health Association’s annual meeting found more premature births in fluoridated water communities compared to non-fluoridated communities in upstate New York.
The study was authored by AK Susheela.
To see the Current Science article, click here: