Water fluoridation and the sudden infant death syndrome

Aims. To determine whether exposure to fluoridated water supplies prenatall y or postnatally at the time of death increases the risk of sudden infant d eath syndrome (SIDS). Methods. A nationwide, case-control study, with infant's water fluoridation status determined from census area unit information for mother's usual add ress at the time of the infant's birth, infant's usual address at the time of death / nominated sleep and address where infant died / was at nominated sleep. SIDS risk associated with fluoride exposure postnatally was assesse d according to method of infant feeding (breast or reconstituted formula), for the two days prior to infant's death / nominated sleep. Results. Infants exposed to fluoridated water supplies during pregnancy wer e not at increased risk for SIDS, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.19 (95% confid ence interval (CI) 0.82, 1.74). For breast-fed infants at the time of death / nominated sleep, fluoridated water exposure was not associated with an i ncreased risk for SIDS, adjusted OR 1.09 (95% CI 0.66, 1.79). Similarly, 'f luoridated' formula feeding, when compared with 'unfluoridated' formula fee ding, showed no increased risk of SIDS, adjusted OR 1.25 (95% CI 0.73, 2.13 ). There was no evidence of an interaction between fluoridation and infant feeding for the last two days (chi(2) = 0.171, df = 1, p = 0.68). Conclusion. Exposure to a fluoridated water supply prenatally or postnatall y at the time of death did not affect the relative risk for SIDS.