FLUID INTAKE PATTERNS OF 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN A NORTHERN FLUORIDATED COMMUNITY.

The quantity of various fluids ingested in winter by 160 six-year-old children living in a northern climate (54 degrees N.) was surveyed as part of a study to determine whether the amount of dental decay was related to the amount of fluoridated water ingested. Only milk, water and fruit juices were found to be important sources of dietary fluid. Total fluids ingested ranged from 11.7 to 91.0 oz. per day, whereas milk intake varied from 3.1 to 52.0 oz. and water intake from 0 to 29.0 oz. per day. Twenty-four children did not drink water as such. The results, when compared with previous reports, indicate that a greater quantitative and qualitative variation in ingested fluids may occur in cool climates, possibly owing to the absence of a constant fluid demand imposed by evaporation for body cooling. Further elucidation of these differences could influence the vehicle and dosage of nutritional supplements to dietary fluids.