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Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

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annual income, to establish a socioec<strong>on</strong>omic pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ile. This was necessary so that the<br />

analysis could c<strong>on</strong>trol for low SES and related issues as these may influence maternal<br />

health and nutriti<strong>on</strong>, enamel hypoplasia, and ECC.<br />

Lactose intolerance is a known issue within this populati<strong>on</strong>. 19,31<br />

Therefore,<br />

assessing milk c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong> al<strong>on</strong>e may not be the most beneficial method <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> determining<br />

risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inadequate or low vitamin D. Other foods were c<strong>on</strong>sidered to determine the<br />

potential risk for vitamin D and calcium deficiencies. Foods c<strong>on</strong>taining vitamin D include<br />

fish, eggs, liver, and fortified dairy products including milk and cheese. 32 Calcium rich<br />

foods are usually dairy-based, although many other foods c<strong>on</strong>tain calcium 32 , including<br />

some green vegetables. Daily recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (adequate intake) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D and<br />

calcium intake during pregnancy when this study began called for 5-10 ug/day (200-400<br />

IU/day) and 1000 mg/day respectively. 32-34<br />

For instance, 1 cup <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> milk c<strong>on</strong>tains<br />

approximately 2.3 ug <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D and 300 mg <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> calcium. 32 However, c<strong>on</strong>troversy<br />

surrounding the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin D exist and the real<br />

RDA remains obscure although there is growing c<strong>on</strong>sensus that current daily<br />

recommendati<strong>on</strong>s are set too low. 34-36<br />

The final comp<strong>on</strong>ent in the research protocol was a blinded assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

integrity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the primary teeth that were erupted into the infant’s oral cavity. The principal<br />

investigator served as the dental examiner and was blinded to the prenatal vitamin D level<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each infant’s mother. The infant dental examinati<strong>on</strong> involved an assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

primary dentiti<strong>on</strong> with particular focus <strong>on</strong> the maxillary incisors (i.e. those teeth<br />

predominantly affected by ECC and S-ECC). Digital photographs were taken when<br />

possible. The working definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel hypoplasia used for this study was “a defect<br />

2-12

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