Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

D has an effect on the dentition, particularly in improving resistance to dental caries.
While many <strong>of</strong> these studies would likely not be conducted today because <strong>of</strong> the ethical
considerations <strong>of</strong> performing such studies with orphaned children residing in institutions
we should not ignore these findings. Further, these early studies did not control for many
other influencing factors like oral hygiene behaviours, socioeconomics, and access to
dental care. Regardless, there is also sufficient evidence to show that the quality <strong>of</strong>
enamel is influenced by vitamin D during periods <strong>of</strong> enamel formation. 91
The real
curiosity is why much <strong>of</strong> this literature has been forgotten. It may be due to assumptions
that the implementation <strong>of</strong> vitamin D fortified foods would solve the problem <strong>of</strong> caries or
it could be that not including this literature into electronic search engines may have
contributed to its loss.
As early as 1936, the Medical Research Council <strong>of</strong> Great Britain stated that
investigations into the role <strong>of</strong> vitamin D and caries should begin during the prenatal
period and extend longitudinally into childhood and adolescence. 100 This review provides
important evidence that good oral health outcomes may be achieved with optimizing
vitamin D intakes and endogenous synthesis. Therefore, relationships between serum
25(OH)D levels during pregnancy and infant oral health are quite plausible and should be
studied.
1.3-36