Notice Number: NOT-DE-06-002

Key Dates
Release Date: March 8, 2006

Issued by
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/)
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)

The NIDCR and NHLBI wish to announce the availability of the Nutrition Data System for Research with Fluoride (NDS-R Fluoride), the first software designed to assess total fluoride exposure of humans from both dietary and non-dietary sources. The software was developed as a new functional module for the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R), a well-established computerized database and interview system used by nutrition researchers for collection of dietary information and calculation of nutrient intakes. The module was developed through a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory and the University of Minnesota’s Nutrition Coordinating Center.

The NDS-R Fluoride software was tested in a demonstration study conducted by the University of Minnesota Nutrition Coordinating Center and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. The demonstration study evaluated the usability of the software and the practicality of the data collection protocols.

The NDS-R Fluoride software is suitable for epidemiological, clinical, and health promotion studies assessing issues such as the relationship of individual fluoride intakes from all sources to dental caries, dental fluorosis, and bone health. For dietary sources, values are adjusted for fluoride levels in regional or local water supplies. For nondietary sources, the software includes a validated method of estimating fluoride intake from toothpaste. The software also allows estimation of fluoride intake from mouthwashes and supplements.

Unique features of the NDS-R Fluoride software include:

• Ability to collect data to assess the total amount of fluoride ingested by individuals from dietary sources (food, water, beverages) and non-dietary sources (toothpaste, mouth rinses, supplements).
  
  
• Ability to integrate assayed fluoride values from directly collected samples of water and water-based beverages used by study participants.
  
  
• Incorporation of national and regional data values published in the recently released USDA National Fluoride Database (to access this database on the Internet, go to http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp and click on the Special Interest Database Fluoride under Food Composition Products. Also see: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov04/fluoride1104.htm).

Citations:

Miller-Ihli NJ, Pehrsoon PR, Cutrufelli RL, Holden JM. Fluoride content of municipal water in the United States: What percentage is fluoridated? Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2003; 16:621-28.

The NDS-R Fluoride software also has all of the capabilities of the underlying NDS-R software, including:

• An interview program that features direct data entry with standardized interview prompts.
• Multiple-pass interview methodology for collecting 24-hour dietary recall records.
• A research-quality database that currently provides 142 nutrients, nutrient ratios, and food components.
• Automatic calculation of all nutrient values as data are entered.
• Reporting of all dietary nutrients ingested, simultaneously with fluoride values.
• Multiple reporting options, including files to support statistical analysis.

The NDS-R Fluoride software is available on a CD-ROM accompanied by a comprehensive Online User Manual fully documenting its features and functionality and providing instructions for its use in a research setting. Training seminars also can be arranged. For information on how to license the NDS-R Fluoride software and the fee schedule contact:

University of Minnesota
Nutrition Coordinating Center
1300 South second Street, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015
Phone: 612-626-9450
Fax: 612-626-9444
Email: ncc@epi.umn.edu
Website: http://www.ncc.umn.edu

Inquiries

For questions or further information, contact:

NIH

Mar a Teresa Canto, DDS, MPH
Director, Health Promotion and Comunity-based Research Program
Center for Health Promotion and Behavioral Research
NIDCR/NIH/DHHS
Building 45, Room 4AS43D
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: 301-594-5497
Fax: 301- 480-8322
E-mail: maria.canto@nih.gov

Abby G. Ershow, ScD
National Health, Lung and Blood Institute
2 Rockledge Center, Room 10193
Suite 10194
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7956
Bethesda, MD 20892-7956
Telephone: 301-435-0550
Fax: 301-480-2858
E-mail: ershowa@mail.nih.gov