Dental Consequences of Vitamin D Deficiency during Pregnancy and Early Infancy—An Observational Study

Deanna M. Beckett, Jonathan M. Broadbent, Carolina Loch, Erin K. Mahoney, Bernadette K. Drummond and Benjamin J. Wheeler
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Deanna M. Beckett: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Jonathan M. Broadbent: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Carolina Loch: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Erin K. Mahoney: Dental Department, Hutt Valley DHB, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
Bernadette K. Drummond: Department of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Benjamin J. Wheeler: Paediatric Endocrinology, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Vitamin D (25OHD) status during pregnancy is closely correlated with foetal and new-born 25OHD. Calcification for primary teeth begins from the fourth month of intrauterine life and from birth for permanent teeth. Dental consequences of severe 25OHD deficiency are well documented; however, consequences are less documented for milder degrees of 25OHD deficiency. This study examined the dental consequences of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency during gestation and infancy in a cohort of 81 New Zealand children. Pregnancy and birth data for the children and their mothers and 25OHD status during gestation, birth and at five months were obtained, and dental examinations were conducted. Associations between 25OHD and enamel defects or caries experience were investigated. Of the 81 children, 55% had experienced dental caries and 64% had at least one enamel defect present. Vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD < 50 nmol/L) at all timepoints was not associated with enamel defect prevalence, but during third trimester pregnancy it was associated with an increased caries risk IRR of 3.55 (CI 1.15–10.92) by age 6. In conclusion, maternal 25OHD insufficiency during the third trimester of pregnancy was associated with greater caries experience in primary dentition. No association was found between early life 25OHD and enamel defect prevalence or severity.

Keywords: vitamin D; dental caries; developmental defects of dental enamel; 25-hydroxyvitamin D (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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