Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42139068›Full record

ArticleGenetics and molecular biology2026

Fluoride and the brain: A systematic review of neurotoxicity and developmental risks.

Malu Siqueira Borges, Raquel Dal Sasso Freitas, Bruna Alves Alonso Martins, Fernanda Rabaioli da Silva, Ana Leticia Hilário Garcia, Juliana da Silva

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genetics and molecular biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Malu Siqueira BorgesUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular (PPGBM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-2035-9082
Raquel Dal Sasso FreitasUniversidade La Salle (UniLaSalle), Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano (PPGSDH), Canoas, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9092-9785
Bruna Alves Alonso MartinsUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular (PPGBM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2771-5623
Fernanda Rabaioli da SilvaUniversidade La Salle (UniLaSalle), Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano (PPGSDH), Canoas, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9130-7435
Ana Leticia Hilário GarciaUniversidade La Salle (UniLaSalle), Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano (PPGSDH), Canoas, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3248-9977
Juliana da SilvaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular (PPGBM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1089-6766

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in soil, rocks, and groundwater, and its controlled use in drinking water is a well-established public health measure to prevent dental caries. However, growing evidence indicates that excessive fluoride exposure, particularly during critical periods of neurodevelopment, may exert neurotoxic effects. This systematic review evaluates current evidence on fluoride-induced neurotoxicity from in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies. The findings reveal that fluoride exposure can induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and impaired autophagy, leading to neuronal damage, synaptic deficits, and cognitive impairments. Protective mechanisms involving sirtuin proteins (SIRT1 and SIRT3) have been identified as potential modulators of fluoride-induced neurotoxicity. These results underscore the importance of monitoring fluoride exposure levels, particularly during early brain development, and lay the groundwork for future research on underlying mechanisms and preventive strategies.

Identifiers

PMID42139068
PMCPMC13178735

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.