By Deidre McPhillips, CNN
(CNN) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it is taking steps to limit the use of prescription fluoride supplements under the direction of the government’s Make American Healthy Again Commission to evaluate the risks and benefits of the products.
The FDA says It sent notices to four companies “outlining the agency’s intention to take enforcement action against those marketing unapproved fluoride-containing ingestible medications labeled for use in children under 3 years of age or children at low or moderate risk of cavities.” The agency also sent a letter to health care professionals recommending that they not use fluoride supplements in these groups.
Fluoride has recently come under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration. research The debate over the health risks associated with high levels of fluoride exposure has been reignited. However, experts widely emphasize the safety and benefits of fluoride.
Fluoride is a mineral that can be found naturally in some foods and groundwater. It may help prevent cavities by strengthening the outer protective layer of enamel, which can be worn away by acids formed by bacteria, plaque, and sugars in the mouth.
The practice of adding fluoride to public water systems began in the United States in 1945 to improve oral health in a cost-effective and equitable manner. The CDC termed it fluoridation of drinking water. One of America’s 10 Largest Health Interventions In the 20th century, with vaccinations, family planning, and safe workplaces.
Most U.S. residents live in communities where fluoride is added to public drinking water. federal data From 2022. In places where there is no fluoride in the water, babies and children may be prescribed fluoride tablets or eye drops to reduce the risk of cavities. ban practice Similar bills to add fluoride to drinking water have been introduced in several other states.
Last April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presentation They said they would study the science to make new recommendations on fluoride. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said he would direct the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation for drinking water in communities.
The FDA began a “safety review and public comment period” on the issue in May. and strategy report With the Kennedy-led agenda, the MAHA committee specifically identified fluoride supplements as issues to be investigated, along with vaccine injuries and exposure to pesticides and microplastics.
in result scientific evaluationAccording to a report released Friday, the FDA concluded that fluoride supplements “should not be used in children under 3 years of age or in older children who are not at increased risk for cavities.”
“For the same reason that fluoride kills bacteria on teeth, it may have broader health effects by altering the gut microbiome,” the FDA said in a news release.
“There are better ways to protect children’s teeth than consuming unapproved ingestible fluoride, which is currently known to alter the gut microbiome, which is increasingly recognized as critical to children’s health and development,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary.
On Friday, the FDA cited “preliminary but potentially concerning” data regarding the risks fluoride may pose to children’s intellectual development. no way A meta-analysis published earlier this yearwhich will serve as the basis for further federal investigation, concluded that IQ declines as fluoride levels increase. However, some experts have raised concerns about bias in the analysis, highlighting that the analysis focuses on fluoride levels that are much higher than most people are exposed to.
As water fluoridation begins to roll back in some communities, experts say it’s important to protect the option to use prescription supplements. In fact, Utah’s bill banning the addition of fluoride to public drinking water included a provision to expand access to prescription fluoride. Prescriptions have skyrocketed. After change.
For some oral health advocates, the FDA’s latest action is a victory because it is not an outright ban.
“We are very excited about this decision because fluoride supplements are still available and will continue to benefit oral health,” said Dr. James Bekker, a pediatric dentist from Utah who spoke at a public meeting last July to discuss the risks and benefits of prescribed fluoride supplements.
“I believe the FDA’s decision to continue providing fluoride supplements is an indication that it has heard and considered all comments generated from medical experts,” Bekker said in an email to CNN on Friday. “Providers can prescribe at recommended levels based on consultation with parents and patients. We still recommend starting fluoride supplements at 6 months in communities with unfluoridated water, and a knowledgeable health care professional will follow documented science considering appropriate age and dosage.”
CNN-Wire
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