Impact of breast vs. formula feeding mode on primary teeth lead level. Retrospective clinical study and literature review.

UNLABELLED Lead exposure is a global environmental problem inducing lifelong adverse health effects. Children's exposure to lead, from birth to 6 months, is typically dominated by dietary sources. The first primary mandibular molar could provide an integrated record of lead exposure. The aim of this study is to detect the level of lead in the first primary molar of a group of Lebanese children born between 1990 and 2000, living in Beirut and suburbs, and to compare the amount of lead according to gender and feeding mode. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 53 first primary molars belonging to 53 Lebanese children (31 girls and 22 boys), and aged 9 to 12 years old, were included in the study. The primary outcome variable of the study was the amount of lead level (mg/kg) in the first primary mandibular molars taken at the time of the natural exfoliation and measured by ICP/MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). Children included in the study were fed exclusively with formula feeding or maternal feeding for six months. RESULTS The mean lead level of the first primary molar was 0.678 mg/kg +/- 0.717. The mean lead was significantly higher among children fed with instant formula milk (0.876 +/- 0.802) than breastfed children (0.455 +/- 0.540), (p = 0.044). No significant difference was found between girls (0.595 < or = 0.548) and boys (0.794 +/- 0.905), (p = 0.440). CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, we found a statistically significant difference in the teeth lead level between breastfeeding and formula feeding, in favor of breastfeeding. This difference proves once more the importance of breastfeeding ; on the other hand, the Lebanese children accumulated lead in their teeth to levels below the international levels.