Fluoride linked to altered sleep patterns in adolescents

This study used data from the extensive US NHANES health and nutrition surveys conducted by the US Centres for Disease Control.

The authors found that in adolescents age 16 to 19 years living with fluoridated water, there was a doubling of symptoms indicative of sleep apnea, compared to those with low fluoride water. There were also significantly later bed times and waking times in the adolescents with higher water fluoride levels. 

The link between fluoride and sleep disturbances may be through fluoride’s effect on the pineal gland. This gland, situated in the brain, regulates sleep-wake cycles through the hormone melatonin. The pineal gland accumulates high levels of fluoride, and previous studies in animals suggested fluoride may alter melatonin levels [Luke 1997].  Alteration of sleep patterns may be a neurotoxic effect of fluoride separate from the loss of IQ and increased risk of ADHD due to earlier life exposures.