New scientific paper exposes serious flaws in fluoride-IQ studies
Retrieved on:
Monday, March 25, 2024
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WASHINGTON, March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of millions of people around the world receive significant dental health benefits because their tap water is adjusted to the recommended amount of fluoride. Yet opponents of water fluoridation often cite a 2019 Canadian study (Green et al.) to claim that fluoride affects children's IQ scores. This claim has been refuted by a new peer-reviewed analysis. This published analysis shows that the Canadian researchers relied on data that cannot report fluoride measurement and does not accurately measure IQ.
Key Points:
- The authors of this analysis wrote that studies relying on these data to make claims about fluoride and IQ "should be considered unacceptable for legal and policy purposes."
- When the researchers compared the average IQ score between fluoridated and non-fluoridated cities in Canada, the scores were virtually identical.
- In fact, a 2023 systematic review examined 30 fluoride-IQ studies and found that 29 studies were at moderate to high risk of bias (lower quality).
- For more information on the scientific evidence related to fluoride and fluoridation, please visit the American Fluoridation Society at AmericanFluoridationSociety.org.