States. Animal studies show accumulation of fluoride in the brain, interference with enzyme activity—and direct free radical damage to nerve cells. Nerve damage from fluoride is not just a theory—it is fact. In research laboratories aluminum fluoride is routinely used to activate G-proteins, regulators of cell activity. This compound is likely to be produced when fluoridated water is heated in aluminum pots, especially in the presence of acid foods, such as tomato, fruits, and coffee.
There has been pitifully little research on the influence of fluoridation on human brain development! We should be concerned that the incidence of ADD is rising precipitously even though we have largely removed lead and mercury from contention. How to account for the fact that the number of children requiring treatment for ADD doubled between 1990 and 1993? That surely cannot be a sudden change in our gene structure. Nor is it likely to be a medical or bureaucratic fad. Have there been any large-scale changes in environment of children since the late 1980s? Yes. There has been a campaign to fluoridate the entire water supply of the United States and the number of fluoridated cities is increasing.
More pertinent, however, is the increasing popularity of vitamin supplements. The fact that you are reading this article is a direct reflection of the growing health and nutrition consciousness of Americans and the medical profession. Mothers and doctors are more likely than ever to add vitamins to infant formula in an attempt to give their child the best modern advantage. However vitamin drops are likely to be fluoridated, even in areas where the water is already fluoridated, and this becomes excessive. The fluoride burden is already too high due to fluoride residues in infant formula, baby food, and toothpaste. About the only safe haven for babies is breast milk.
In the first place, breast milk contains almost no fluoride. But it does contain nutrients essential for
brain development, especially DHA and
taurine. Remember, the human brain is not
fully developed at birth—the EEG does not
have the familiar alpha, beta, and theta wave,
but only some nondescript delta activity. Even
at age three the brain structure is only 90
percent developed. Babies that are fed the raw
materials for human nerve cell growth and
development get a tremendous advantage. In
an 18 year study of 1000 New Zealand
children, breast fed babies tested higher in
reading, mathematics, IQ and scholastic ability—and they were 38% more likely to graduate high school. This statistic was derived after correcting for socio-economic factors and diseases of infancy.[i]
This takes on greater significance in light of research at Purdue University that found a significant deficiency of DHA in blood cells of 53 children with ADD compared to 43 children without the disorder.[ii] DHA is produced from the essential fatty acid, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is commonly deficient in the American diet. This nutrient is essential for brain development and nerve cell membrane structure. Though it is readily obtained in fish oils, these are located in the skin of the fish, a part that most people don’t eat. One reason is that Americans have been strongly advised against eating fats. Even the “good fats,” like that in fish skin, are taboo. And children, even more in need than adults, lose out because DHA is not yet included in any of the commercial infant formulas sold in the USA! If you don’t add the new DHA products or the old-fashioned cod-liver oil, your child is out of luck.
Forty percent of the ADD children in the Purdue study also had symptoms of fatty acid deficiency, such as excess thirst and frequency of urination, dry hair, dandruff and dry skin (especially elbows), and bumpy hair follicles on the upper arms. This compares to only 9 percent in the control group children. However their diets were not significantly different except alpha linolenic acid was lower in the ADD group than the controls! This is the source of DHA, which is an essential component of the brain cell membranes.
DHA supplementation in adult dyslexics improves the function of nerve cells in the retina. Their dark adaptation is so improved that “experts” are considering DHA may be a dietary essential for this organ. Dyslexics have retinal and central processing defects but dark adaptation has not been reported before. Research by Dr. J. Stordy has found that DHA supplementation is associated with improved reading ability and sociable behavior.[iii]
Other comparisons are also informative: the rate of breast feeding was 81 percent in the control group, but only 45 percent in those with ADD. Recurrent ear infections (otitis) relapsing more than 10 times since birth occurred in 30 percent of the ADD children but only 9 percent of the controls. Asthma was also seen in 32 percent of the ADD kids and only 9 percent of the controls. The ADD kids also had more headaches and stomach-aches, practically non-existent in the control group.