ABU DHABI // Al Ain Water will aim a new product containing calcium and fluoride at children aged between four and 13. Water + will be a means of encouraging water consumption via a fun format, according to Fasahat Beg, the chief executive of Al Ain Water. "Proper hydration among children is of extreme importance given the climate here in the UAE," he said. However, fluoride, which is commonly available in toothpaste and often found naturally in groundwater in varying doses, has been controversial in the United States. Although it helps to protect teeth from cavities, there are worries about how the chemical affects the bodies of children.
Fluoride is poisonous if taken in very large doses, and parent groups in the US have linked it to brain disorders, a weak immune system and osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. "There is a controversy and the controversy centres more around the potential toxicity," said Dr Peter Thornback, a paediatrician at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. "Fluoride is taken up in bone, in a small quantity, and is an important part of bone structure, but excess can cause major bone problems.
" There is a fairly wide window of safety here and if a child is drinking two litres of this a day, they would only be getting 1.5 milligrams per day, which is the WHO recommended dose. "The amount they're talking about is perfectly safe. The question is whether it is adequate." Tooth decay affects 85 per cent of children in the UAE, but is easily avoided through a proper regime of dental hygiene.
"It's a good initiative, but people mustn't get thinking that if a child gets fluoride in the water they will not get tooth decay," said Dr Thornback. "The focus is on cavity prevention, along with good feeding practices and cleaning teeth." Mr Beg hopes the "fun-looking, colourful, children-orientated pack" will encourage youngsters to drink more water, while the parents are drawn to the promise of added health benefits.
"We have also worked closely with nutritionists to provide the additional calcium and fluoride enhancement to provide a specific health and wellness benefit to children," he said. amcmeans@thenational.ae
