Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

<strong>Influence</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Vitamin</strong> D on Oral Health
Hours <strong>of</strong> yearly sunshine and caries and
enamel hypoplasia (continued)
Geography and caries 36,86,129,130,132-135
Nature <strong>of</strong> Association
A statistically significant inverse
relationship was reported between
pronounced enamel hypoplasia and mean
daily hours <strong>of</strong> sunshine during the third
trimester 69
Evidence that geographical distribution <strong>of</strong>
caries may be a result <strong>of</strong> vitamin D
attainment (endogenous & exogenous).
Those in southern latitudes and those on
high vitamin D diets may have greater
immunity to caries 36
Children residing in cities < 40˚N latitude
had lower mean caries rates in the
permanent dentition than those children
living at higher latitudes 130
Greater prevalence <strong>of</strong> dental caries at
higher latitudes 132
Incidence <strong>of</strong> dental caries among 12 to 14
year old American males increased as
latitude increased 133
Retrospective evidence that caries rates in
permanent dentition may be related to
geography with higher rates at more
northern locales 129
Naval personnel from northern United
States <strong>of</strong> American demonstrated more
defective teeth affected by caries than those
from southern regions 134
Historically low caries rates <strong>of</strong> natives in
tropical regions <strong>of</strong> the world possibly due
to their increased exposure to sunshine 86
Naval midshipmen from the northern
United States and New England States
were found to have higher DMFT rates
than their peers from southern latitudes
including the American Southewest 135 1.3-34