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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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If enamel hypoplasia results from nutriti<strong>on</strong>al inadequacies and if it provides<br />

refuge for cariogenic bacteria 94,117,118<br />

that can increase the risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> caries, then an<br />

associati<strong>on</strong> between enamel hypoplasia and caries is reas<strong>on</strong>able. 112,119-121 As menti<strong>on</strong>ed,<br />

hypoplasia is associated with caries and dramatically increases the tooth’s susceptibility<br />

to caries. 89,92,120,122-129 However, more informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC and enamel<br />

hypoplasia is imperative. 93<br />

Although nutriti<strong>on</strong>al supplementati<strong>on</strong> can lead to a decrease in the incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

enamel hypoplasia, assessments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this have been primarily c<strong>on</strong>ducted in permanent<br />

dentiti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> adolescents 112 with the excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e prenatal supplementati<strong>on</strong> study that<br />

included hypoplasia as an outcome. 116<br />

To date, direct evidence that nutriti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

inadequacies place a child at increased risk for both enamel hypoplasia and dental<br />

decay 127 is ambiguous. New research must determine whether nutriti<strong>on</strong>al deficiencies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in utero play a role in ECC. Therefore, attenti<strong>on</strong> must<br />

focus <strong>on</strong> the role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inadequate nutriti<strong>on</strong> during dental development in enamel hypoplasia<br />

and ECC. 107 Current literature is skewed to those factors influencing decay <strong>on</strong> erupted<br />

teeth rather than those factors that act before erupti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>Vitamin</str<strong>on</strong>g> D plays an important role in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis,<br />

c<strong>on</strong>trolling intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorpti<strong>on</strong>. 130<br />

The main source <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

25(OH)D is from endogenous, UV-dependent synthesis. Serum 25(OH)D c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

remain relatively c<strong>on</strong>sistent during pregnancy for those not receiving supplements. 131<br />

Reports indicate that the biological half-life <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25(OH)D may last up to 5 weeks. 132,133<br />

For many residing in northern regi<strong>on</strong>s, exposure to adequate ultraviolet (UV) irradiati<strong>on</strong><br />

is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten insufficient, necessitating reliance <strong>on</strong> exogenous sources. 134-136 Furthermore, food<br />

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