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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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It is well known that nutriti<strong>on</strong>al deficiencies exist am<strong>on</strong>g Canada’s Aboriginals. 142<br />

Recent research places the prevalence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy in three<br />

northern communities in Manitoba in excess <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 80%. 157 Reas<strong>on</strong>s for these nutriti<strong>on</strong>al<br />

insufficiencies are generally ascribed to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchasing ability, cost, availability and<br />

access, al<strong>on</strong>g with inadequate dietary educati<strong>on</strong> in the community. 142 For example, recent<br />

attempts have been made to draw attenti<strong>on</strong> to the cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> milk in northern Manitoba First<br />

Nati<strong>on</strong>s communities, which hovers around $12.00 Canadian for 4 litres. 158,159 Such<br />

prices obviously deter many families from purchasing, and c<strong>on</strong>suming milk. However,<br />

this is not as large a problem am<strong>on</strong>g urban Aboriginals. 134<br />

Such nutriti<strong>on</strong>al stressors during prenatal development may explain the high<br />

prevalence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC in northern Manitoba, 67,137,157 since enamel hypoplasia is a risk factor<br />

in ECC. 41,66,106,160<br />

Episodes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> malnutriti<strong>on</strong> or deficiencies during enamel formati<strong>on</strong> can<br />

predispose teeth to enamel hypoplasia. 97,145,157 Expectant mothers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> low SES, especially<br />

those from northern First Nati<strong>on</strong>s communities, are at c<strong>on</strong>siderable disadvantage since<br />

increasing nutriti<strong>on</strong>al needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten cannot be secured with scarce finances. Therefore,<br />

attempts to investigate the relati<strong>on</strong>ship between prenatal nutriti<strong>on</strong> and ECC should be<br />

encouraged. Like ECC, enamel hypoplasia has also been found to be more prevalent<br />

am<strong>on</strong>g children from lower socio-ec<strong>on</strong>omic populati<strong>on</strong>s. 66,96,106,107<br />

New evidence is now uncovering the role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D in human immunology,<br />

indicating that deficiency states may reduce host immunologic resp<strong>on</strong>ses towards<br />

microbial infecti<strong>on</strong>s. 161 Therefore, it is also possible that deficiencies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D may<br />

also reduce host resistance to cariogenic bacteria.<br />

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