ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of dietary nutrition on dental fluorosis degrees of school children in endemic fluorosis areas. Methods Two hundred and eight children aged 8 to 12 years were chosen using cluster random sampling method from a village of municipal suburban and a town of autonomous region, both with a history of serious endemic fluorosis. Morning urinary fluoride was measured by fluoride ion electrode. The Tooth Surface Index of Dean was applied to measure the severity of dental fluorosis. Food and nutrient intakes were analyzed according to the 3-day diet records and duplicate meals. Results The urinary fluoride concentration of the children in the town [(6.80±3.90)mg/L]was much higher than those in the village [(5.20±2.75)mg/L, t= 3.21, P < 0.01]. Dental fluorosis index of the children in the town was 1.9, higher than that of the village of 1.8 (H=10.266, P < 0.01). The town had more children with fluoride tooth degree higher than Ⅱ [63.3%(57/90)]than the village did[48.3% (57/118), χ2=4.633, P < 0.05]. A 3-days diet records showed that children in the village ate more protein, calcium, vitamin C and so on but less dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium than those in the town did(all P < 0.01). Duplicate meals revealed that children in the town had more daily intake of magnesium, lithium, lead and less cadmium than those of the village did(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Children in the village had higher intake of fluoride[(2.24±1.18)mg/d]than those of the town [(1.78±0.06)mg/d, t = 4.21, P < 0.01]. Conclusions Healthy diet can reduce the incidence of dental fluorosis or mitigate the degree of the impairment. This study can provide scientific basis for the future control and elimination of endemic fluorosis.