Fluoride Content in the Nutrition of Infants and Younger Preschool Children - Instant Baby Food Products

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the fluoride content in instant baby food products, available in the consumer basket of the network of pharmacies and grocery stores and provide dental public data necessary for to competent preventive food counselling. Material and Methods: The study was performed on four sets of instant baby food and snacks from manufacturers Hero, Nutricia, Hipp and Humana. The analysis was carried out by potentiometric titration using fluoride ion selective electrode after the quantitative fluoride extraction by the immuno-diffusion method facilitated by perchloric acid and hexamethyldisiloxane. Four sets of products instant baby food were measured including cereal porridges, vegetable soups and baby side dishes, instant meat-vegetable meals and fruit snacks. Results: Fluoride content in all analyzed food products was low in the range from 0.14 to 0.56 mg/1000 ml, thus representing per usual packaging 0.03 to 0.12 mg/200 g.The estimated fluoride intake from instant food from one to two packs a day could share in total daily intake of fluoride in younger and older preschool children by about 25-30 and 17-20% respectively. Conclusion: With an average low intake of food borne fluoride in our children, which is below the accepted optimum range it is not necessary to consider the instant baby food as a significant source of fluoride and take it into account in the balance sheet indicating use of fluoride tablets.

Keywords

• fluorides
• child nutrition
• preschool age