Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 0.985 [0.846, 1.146]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.003 [0.874, 1.151]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 0.953 [0.813, 1.117]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
Fracture · general population
Non-linear positive dose-response: little change in overall fracture risk below ~1.5 mg/L drinking-water fluoride, with risk increasing above that threshold (RR 1.06, 1.19, 1.35 at 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 mg/L vs null); ungraded (4 studies).
4 findings from 1 review
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 1.2 mg/L vs null
RR 1.00 [0.80, 1.24]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 4.0 mg/L vs null
RR 1.35 [0.94, 1.95]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 3.0 mg/L vs null
RR 1.19 [0.87, 1.64]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 1 more finding
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 2.0 mg/L vs null
RR 1.06 [0.80, 1.41]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European-ancestry adults
In multivariable MR, genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) had no significant causal effect on osteoporosis with pathological fracture (OR 1.279, not significant).
2 findings from 1 review
Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR Maximum Likelihood interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 1.363 [0.955, 1.947]
281786 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.355 [0.696, 2.635]
281786 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.214 [0.746, 1.977]
281786 participants
GRADE not reported
Osteoporosis · European-ancestry adults
In multivariable MR (adjusted for periodontitis), higher genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) causally increased osteoporosis risk (OR 1.165, moderate evidence).
2 findings from 1 review
Bone mineral density in forearm · European-ancestry adults
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) had no causal effect on forearm BMD.
1 finding from 1 review
Risk of femoral fractures · general population
Femoral-fracture risk was mildly U-shaped: RR 0.86 at 0.5 mg/L rising to 1.06 at 1.8 mg/L drinking-water fluoride vs null; risk mostly below null across the range; ungraded.
2 findings from 1 review
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 1.8 mg/L vs null
RR 1.06 [0.67, 1.69]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 0.5 mg/L vs null
RR 0.86 [0.71, 1.05]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Risk of fragility fractures · Male participants
In males (7 studies), fragility-fracture risk generally decreased with increasing fluoride: RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.72-0.97) at 0.57 mg/L to 0.87 (0.48-1.58) at 1.8 mg/L vs null; ungraded.
2 findings from 1 review
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Males: drinking-water fluoride 1.8 mg/L vs null
RR 0.87 [0.48, 1.58]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Males: drinking-water fluoride 0.57 mg/L vs null
RR 0.83 [0.72, 0.97]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Risk of fragility fractures · general population
Fragility-fracture risk overall was slightly U-shaped: RR 0.93 up to 0.9 mg/L, ~1.00 at 1.48 mg/L, 1.05 at 1.8 mg/L drinking-water fluoride vs null; ungraded.
5 findings from 1 review
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride up to 0.9 mg/L vs null
RR 0.93 [0.84, 1.02]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 1.8 mg/L vs null
RR 1.05 [0.82, 1.35]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Sensitivity (excluding high risk-of-bias studies): 0.8-1.5 mg/L vs null
RR 0.93 [0.72, 1.21]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Show 2 more findings
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Drinking-water fluoride 1.48 mg/L vs null
RR 1.00 [0.82, 1.21]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Sensitivity (excluding high risk-of-bias studies): 1.8 mg/L vs null
RR 0.95 [0.70, 1.29]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Forearm fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 0.992 [0.945, 1.042]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 0.994 [0.948, 1.042]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 0.990 [0.950, 1.032]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported
Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 1.097 [0.598, 2.011]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.181 [0.748, 1.866]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.278 [0.921, 1.773]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants
The MVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.062 [0.991, 1.137]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
Lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) · general population
Spine BMD showed an inverted U-shaped association with fluoride (peak ~0.6 mg/L); excluding high risk-of-bias studies gave small positive MDs (e.g., 0.05 g/cm2, 95% CI 0.01-0.10, up to 2.27 mg/L); ungraded.
4 findings from 1 review
Show 1 more finding
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Sensitivity (excluding high risk-of-bias studies): above 2.27 mg/L vs null
MD 0.04 [-0.21, 0.30]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European-ancestry adults
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) had no significant causal effect on fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis (multivariable MR, OR 0.968).
2 findings from 1 review
Forearm fracture · European-ancestry adults
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) had no significant causal effect on fracture of forearm (multivariable MR, OR 0.973).
2 findings from 1 review
Risk of fragility fractures · Females (all ages)
In females, fragility-fracture risk was U-shaped: lowest ~0.4 mg/L, rising above 0.9 mg/L (RR 0.84 at 0.34, 1.00 at 0.9, 1.13 at 1.1 mg/L vs null); ungraded.
3 findings from 1 review
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Females: drinking-water fluoride 1.1 mg/L vs null
RR 1.13 [0.93, 1.37]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Females: drinking-water fluoride 0.34 mg/L vs null
RR 0.84 [0.67, 1.07]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLong-term / lifetime fluoride exposure · General population; 37 observational studies (1944-2024), predominantly North America (USA, Canada) and Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden), plus UK, Poland, Italy, Germany, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ethiopia; exposure mainly community drinking-water fluoride · Females: drinking-water fluoride 0.9 mg/L vs null
RR 1.00 [0.79, 1.27]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Femur fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 0.893 [0.678, 1.175]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.137 [0.976, 1.325]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 1.094 [0.884, 1.354]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported
Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European-ancestry adults
Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on osteoporosis with pathological fracture (single-variable MR, OR 1.003).
2 findings from 1 review
Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants
The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.
3 findings from 1 review
OR 0.867 [0.691, 1.087]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 0.950 [0.808, 1.117]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
OR 0.994 [0.729, 1.355]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · Postmenopausal women (European ancestry)
In multivariable MR (adjusted for periodontitis), genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS) causally increased postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture (OR 1.422, moderate evidence).
2 findings from 1 review