The Influence of Prenatal Vitamin D Supplementation on Dental Caries in Infants.

Abstract

Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) originates prenatally. This study investigated whether a relation exists between levels of vitamin D in the umbilical cord and caries in offspring.

Methods: A prospective cohort of expectant mothers was selected from a high-risk urban population receiving prenatal care in Winnipeg, Canada. Participants self-selected into 1 of 2 groups. The intervention group received 2 oral prenatal doses of 50 000 international units (IU) of vitamin D in addition to routine prenatal care. The control group received routine prenatal care. A prenatal questionnaire was completed at the first visit. Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). At the time of their infant's first birthday, participants returned for a follow-up questionnaire and a dental examination of the infant. A p value ≤ 0.05 was significant.

Results: In all, 283 women were recruited (mean age 23.4 ± 5.6 years), 141 in the intervention group and 142 in the control group. The mean cord 25(OH)D level was 49.6 ± 24.3 nmol/L and did not differ between the groups. For the follow-up visit, 175 women returned. Overall, 26.3% of infants had ECC, and the mean decayed tooth (dt) score was 0.94 ± 2.16 teeth (range 0-16). There was no significant difference in prevalence of ECC between the intervention and control groups (p = 0.21). Poisson regression determined an inverse relation between 25(OH)D levels and dt scores (p = 0.001). Socioeconomic factor index (SEFI), age and enamel hypoplasia, but not vitamin D supplementation were significantly and independently associated with dt. Multiple logistic regression models also revealed that higher SEFI score, age and enamel hypoplasia were associated with ECC.

Conclusion: No relation was found between the 2 groups and prevalence of ECC. However, significance was seen in an inverse relation between 25(OH)D levels and the number of decayed primary teeth. Further studies with higher levels of vitamin D supplementation are needed.