Investigating impacts of natural minerals in drinking water on skeletal development and dental health- a cross-sectional study

Drinking water works as an important supplementary source to maintain human health. To find out the relationship between minerals concentration and skeletal development and dental health for school children, we investigated three village primary schools located in northwest China where drinking water minerals varied. It was found out that Ca, Mg, F and Sr ranged in 31.8-90.1 mg/L,10.3-58.1 mg/L, 0.6-2.8 mg/L and 0.64-14.2 mg/L respectively in local drinking water. Students'height aged at 11 and 12 in low Sr and normal Ca group was found significantly lower; students'height aged at 13 was higher in the high Sr and low Ca group. The students in low Sr, normal Ca, low Mg and F group was identified with the most incidence of delayed skeletal development, and the least incidence for dental fluorosis and dental caries. The results implied Sr did not damage skeletal health at concentration of 14.2 mg/L in drinking water, nor play as a protective factor for dental caries, but it could be risky for dental fluorosis when F existed in drinking water. Mg at concentration of 44 mg/L in drinking water was not proven effectively to protect children from dental caries.