Dietary fluoride intake over the course of pregnancy in Mexican women

Objective: To estimate dietary fluoride intake (F) over the course of pregnancy and the overall adjusted difference in dietary F intake by pregnancy stages and levels of compliance with dietary recommendations. Design: Secondary data analysis from a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study in a population exposed to fluoridated salt. Women were followed during the early, middle and late stages of their pregnancy (n 568). The dietary intake of recommended prenatal nutrients according to Mexican dietary guidelines and F intake (mg/d) was estimated with a validated FFQ. Data were summarised with descriptive statistics. Levels of F intake were compared with the USA's Institute of Medicine adequate intake (AI) of 3 mg/d for pregnancy. Adjusted differences in F intake by pregnancy stages and levels of compliance with recommendations were estimated using random effects models. Setting: Mexico City. Participants: Women participating in the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to ENvironmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) project, from 2001 to 2003. Results: Median dietary F intake throughout pregnancy ranged from 0 center dot 64 (interquartile range (IQR) 0 center dot 38) in the early to 0 center dot 70 (IQR 0 center dot 42) in the middle, and 0 center dot 72 (IQR 0 center dot 44) mg/d in the late stage (0 center dot 01 mg F/kg per d). Corresponding adjusted intakes of F were 0 center dot 72 (95 % CI 0 center dot 70, 0 center dot 74), 0 center dot 76 (95 % CI 0 center dot 74, 0 center dot 77) and 0 center dot 80 (95 % CI 0 center dot 78, 0 center dot 82) mg/d. Women who were moderately and highly compliant with Mexican dietary recommendations ingested, on average, 0 center dot 04 and 0 center dot 14 mg F/d more than non-compliant women (P < 0 center dot 005). Conclusions: Dietary F intake was below current AI, was greater with the progression of pregnancy and in women who were moderately and highly compliant with dietary recommendations.