Table 3.

Multivariate adjusted^* bone mineral density (g/cm²) with 95% confidence intervals by exposure to fluoride in drinking water, 1971-90

Anatomical site	No exposure	Mixed exposure	Continuous exposure	No exposure v continuous (% difference)	P value
					No exposure v mixed	No exposure v continuous
Lumbar spine (n=6433)	0.849 (0.843 to 0.856)	0.853 (0.844 to 0.862)	0.871 (0.865 to 0.877)	2.5	0.440	<0.001
Proximal femur (n=6420):
Neck	0.647 (0.643 to 0.651)	0.652 (0.646 to 0.657)	0.664 (0.661 to 0.668)	2.6	0.122	<0.001
Trochanter	0.558 (0.554 to 0.562)	0.561 (0.555 to 0.566)	0.572 (0.568 to 0.575)	2.4	0.314	<0.001
Ward's triangle	0.429 (0.424 to 0.434)	0.433 (0.428 to 0.439)	0.439 (0.436 to 0.443)	2.3	0.260	0.002
Intertrochanter	0.892 (0.887 to 0.898)	0.889 (0.882 to 0.897)	0.895 (0.889 to 0.900)	0.3	0.652	0.737
Distal radius (n=7067)	0.371 (0.367 to 0.374)	0.362 (0.357 to 0.366)	0.364 (0.361 to 0.367)	−1.9	0.003	0.002
Proximal radius (n=7113)	0.645 (0.642 to 0.649)	0.637 (0.632 to 0.642)	0.636 (0.633 to 0.639)	−1.4	0.010	<0.001
Calcaneus (n=7104)	0.408 (0.405 to 0.412)	0.402 (0.398 to 0.407)	0.413 (0.410 to 0.416)	1.2	0.134	0.410

^*Adjusted for age, weight, education, knee/grip strength, surgical menopause, calcium intake, drinks/week, current oestrogen use, current thiazide use, non-insulin dependent diabetes, current thyroid hormone use, walking for exercise, and smoking status.