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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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these participants the loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e-third <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the cohort was not unexpected. However, as<br />

discussed later in this chapter it still is a limitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this study.<br />

Determining the vitamin D status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these participants was a key objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />

prospective investigati<strong>on</strong>. Very few participants indicated that they took prenatal<br />

vitamins during pregnancy even though many did report that they believed this to be<br />

important for good prenatal health. One possible explanati<strong>on</strong> for this disc<strong>on</strong>nect may be<br />

the fact that several participants were recruited at their first prenatal visit and might not<br />

have previously received any advice <strong>on</strong> the need to add supplements to their diets.<br />

However, it does signify a need to ensure that c<strong>on</strong>sistent and early messaging <strong>on</strong> vitamin<br />

use during the prenatal period is provided to all expectant women from their primary<br />

caregiver. Many in this study indicated that they did not receive any such advice. A<br />

recent article <strong>on</strong> the vitamin D status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Albertans suggests that the medical community<br />

has been slow to incorporate new revelati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> vitamin D and health into practice. 12<br />

Physicians may not be fully aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the latest Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)<br />

recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> supplementati<strong>on</strong>. 13 Unfortunately, these recommended intakes are<br />

still too low to have any real effect. 14<br />

Overall, there appeared to be a relatively low level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> participant knowledge about<br />

vitamin D and its role in health. While nearly two-thirds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>dents had heard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

vitamin D less than 25% correctly stated what vitamin D was important for. Even fewer<br />

could identify dietary sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D. There is uncertainty about whether vitamin D<br />

awareness is lacking <strong>on</strong>ly in this segment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the populati<strong>on</strong> or whether overall public<br />

awareness is low. One possible way to improve and sustain maternal vitamin D levels<br />

during pregnancy may be to raise awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D; its role in health and also ways<br />

6-3

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