For more than half a century, small amounts of fluoride have been added to many US municipal water supplies in an effort to prevent tooth decay. This fluoride, as well as naturally occurring fluoride from wells and other water sources, subsequently finds its way into water-based beverages and foods, noted the ARS.
An Adequate Intake level has been set for fluoride at 3 milligrams (mg) daily for women and 4 mg daily for men. However, until now, scant data existed on the quantity of fluoride in the national food supply, meaning the actual level of the mineral being consumed by individuals is relatively unknown.
The database was coordinated by nutritionist Rena Cutrufelli and the ARS Nutrient Data Laboratory, and is now available online.
The new compilation is based on data extracted from reviews of existing scientific literature and data analyzed by scientists at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, in Iowa City.
The data is also part of a food-and-beverage intake survey tool now being developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota NutritionCoordinating Center (NCC). That tool will be used to assess the amount of fluoride individuals consume from dietary and nondietary sources, including fluoride supplements and toothpastes.