Fluoride intake in infants fed balanced diets

According to recent German recommendations for the prevention of dental car ies by fluoride, the use of supplementary fluoride (tablets) is unnecessary in children who are fed a semi-elemental formula because such products are already supplemented with fluoride. Taking the fluoride contents indicated on the labels of the commercial semi-elemental formulae for infants as a b asis, the daily fluoride intake of infants aged 0 to 4 months varies signif icantly among individiual products. About half of the semi-elemental fomula e provide a daily fluoride intake below the dose recommended for fluoride s upplementation in infants fed normal formulae. Taking into account the pres ent supply of semi-elemental formulae for infants in Germany an assessment of the individual fluoride intake is of particular importance. In view of t he latest reference intakes for fluoride from USA and Canada, the fluoride content of semi-elemental formulae for infants would have to be reconsidere d.