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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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The vast majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> infants returning for follow-up were reported to be in good<br />

health. Surprisingly 12.7% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> infants returning for the sec<strong>on</strong>d phase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this study were<br />

reported to be premature and 4.6% were <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> low birth weight at birth. The incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

preterm birth in this cohort appears to be higher than provincial statistics. 28 Between the<br />

2001/02 and 2005/06 fiscal years the reported preterm birth rate was 7.7%. 28 The high<br />

rate in our study may be a reflecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the lower socioec<strong>on</strong>omic background <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

our participants. In fact, preterm birth rates for the Winnipeg neighbourhoods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Point<br />

Douglas and Downtown range from 9.4% to 10%. 28 Very few infants in this study had<br />

any medical issues although 16 children were reported to have signs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> early asthma. This<br />

was likely wheezing rather than specialist diagnosed asthma.<br />

<strong>Infant</strong> feeding behaviours revealed that many were breastfed, although for those<br />

who had already been weaned at the time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dental examinati<strong>on</strong>, breastfeeding ceased<br />

before four m<strong>on</strong>ths <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> age. Very few were still being breastfed at the time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their dental<br />

examinati<strong>on</strong>. The data reveal that bottle feeding was routine as a feeding method in this<br />

birth cohort. The majority were still bottle fed at the time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the dental follow-up<br />

examinati<strong>on</strong> as <strong>on</strong>ly 21 were weaned from the bottle. Comm<strong>on</strong> bottle c<strong>on</strong>tents included<br />

formula, water, milk and, apple juice. Such infant feeding practices have been reported to<br />

increase a child’s risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developing ECC. However, we found no relati<strong>on</strong>ship between<br />

infant feeding practice and caries status in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fspring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> women enrolled into this<br />

investigati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

A c<strong>on</strong>siderable number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the mothers in this study were living independently and<br />

many moved during the period from enrollment into the cohort until the infant dental<br />

examinati<strong>on</strong> visit. The pressures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> single parenting combined with the lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a stable<br />

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