(Ivanhoe Newswire) – The importance of vitamin D during pregnancy is
often stressed to women. Now, a new study backs this recommendation. Researchers
found pregnant women with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have children
with enamel defects and tooth decay.
Vitamin D concentrations in the body are related to how much milk the mother
drinks and how often she takes her pre-natal vitamin. Researchers from the
University of Manitoba conducted the latest study. They included 206 pregnant
women in their second trimester of pregnancy. The women’s vitamin D levels were
tested. They later examined the infants to determine if the babies had enamel
defects.
Researchers found that 22 percent of the children had enamel defects and 33
percent had early childhood tooth decay. Specifically, mothers of children with
enamel defects had lower levels of vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy,
though the lower levels were not considered significant. However, mothers of
children with early childhood tooth decay did have significantly lower vitamin D
levels than those whose children were cavity free.
Study authors say this is the first study to show how maternal vitamin D levels
can impact the primary teeth and the development of tooth decay.
SOURCE: Study presented at the 86th General Session of the International
Association for Dental Research on July 4, 2008
