Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
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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Chapter 6 – Discussi<strong>on</strong><br />
There is no doubt that optimal vitamin levels are associated with improved health<br />
outcomes. It also appears that oral health is influenced by vitamin D c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s (as<br />
reviewed in Chapter 1, Secti<strong>on</strong> 3). For instance, we know that vitamin D regulates the<br />
body’s use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> calcium and plays a key role in crani<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>acial development and the<br />
maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> good oral health. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Vitamin</str<strong>on</strong>g> D has a role in enamel and dentin formati<strong>on</strong><br />
and also is associated with period<strong>on</strong>tal and oral b<strong>on</strong>e health. 1,2 Higher serum levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
25(OH)D are generally associated with improved period<strong>on</strong>tal health outcomes for adults.<br />
Several early studies identified a c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> between vitamin D fortified diets and<br />
caries and enamel hypoplasia in school aged children. As reviewed in Chapter 1, Secti<strong>on</strong><br />
3, research from the first half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the twentieth century suggested that school-aged children<br />
receiving cod liver oil <strong>on</strong> a daily basis had a lower incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> caries in both their<br />
primary and permanent dentiti<strong>on</strong> after two years. 3<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong>, children receiving<br />
radiostol (vitamin D) had significantly lower incidence and extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> caries in the<br />
permanent dentiti<strong>on</strong> than c<strong>on</strong>trols. 3 Further, cod liver oil and sunbathing during infancy<br />
and early childhood was shown to be effective in decreasing the incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel<br />
hypoplasia in the permanent dentiti<strong>on</strong>. 4<br />
Unfortunately, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these studies were not c<strong>on</strong>trolled trials and did not involve<br />
large samples <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> children needed for statistical power. They also did not correlate actual<br />
25(OH)D levels with caries or developmental defects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel (DDE) like enamel<br />
hypoplasia. Few studies have reported associati<strong>on</strong>s between vitamin D status (e.g.<br />
ne<strong>on</strong>atal tetany as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maternal vitamin D deficiency, chr<strong>on</strong>ic disorders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> calcium<br />
and phosphate homeostasis like <str<strong>on</strong>g>Vitamin</str<strong>on</strong>g> D Dependent Rickets (VDDR), privati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
6-1