Relationship between intelligence quotient and water fluoride levels of school-going children aged 6-12 years in and around Mahbubnagar district – a cross-sectional study

Kola Srikanth Reddy; Soumya S. G.; A. Aravind Kumar; Korokoppula Alkeya; Bhavani Sukka; V. Nagakishore

doi:10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20263299

Authors

Kola Srikanth Reddy Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences. Nizamabad, Telangana, India
Soumya S. G. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sharavathi Dental College and Hospital, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
A. Aravind Kumar Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences. Nizamabad, Telangana, India
Korokoppula Alkeya Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences, Nizamabad, Telangana, India
Bhavani Sukka Department of General Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Telangana, India
V. Nagakishore Department of Pedodontics, K. G. F. Institute of Dental Science, Kolar, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20263299

Keywords:

Drinking water, Fluoride, Intelligence quotient, School children

Abstract

Background: Excess fluoride exposure during childhood leads to dental fluorosis and, according to some studies, has also been associated with lower neurocognitive test scores. This study assessed the intelligence quotient (IQ) of school-going children aged with aged with 6-12 years in villages of the Mahbubnagar district with varying levels of fluoride in drinking water.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the permanent residents of Mahbubnagar district, Telangana state, India. A total of 480 government school-going children aged 6-12 years were selected through stratified random sampling from 3 different areas with varying levels of naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water. The IQ levels of the children were assessed using Ravans standard progressive matrices test (1991, edition).

Results: The mean IQ levels were higher in villages with low fluoride concentration in drinking water (15.26) compared to those with medium fluoride content (12.91) and high fluoride content (9.10). A statistically significant association was observed (p<0.01).

Conclusions: The overall IQ levels of children exposed to high fluoride concentration were significantly lower than those in low-fluoride areas, indicating that high levels of fluoride in drinking water adversely affect children’s intelligence.

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