A seven-month-old infant fed reconstituted infant formula and other age-appropriate complementary foods may be at risk of over-supplementation with which nutrient?

• A. Vitamin A
• B. Fluoride
• C. Vitamin E
• D. Iron

Answer: (B)

Fluoride intake in infancy is tightly regulated because teeth are forming during this period, and excess fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis. When an infant is receiving reconstituted formula (often prepared with water that may contain fluoride) and also consuming complementary foods, their total fluoride intake can accumulate quickly. If fluoride supplements are added on top of this, the combined amount can exceed the safe level for a developing infant, increasing the risk of fluorosis in the permanent teeth that are forming now and in early childhood.

In this scenario, the pattern of exposure—formula reconstituted with water that can contain fluoride plus other dietary sources—makes fluoride the nutrient most likely to be over-supplemented. Other nutrients like vitamins A or E or iron can pose toxicity risks, but the characteristic concern here is fluoride due to its cumulative intake and impact on developing teeth.