Low Levels Of Maternal Vitamin D Linked To Dental Problems In Babies

Winnipeg, Canada (AHN) - Pregnant women who consumed low levels of vitamin D during gestation are more likely to have babies who develop tooth enamel problems, which can lead to tooth decay, new Canadian research says.

Researchers at the University of Manitoba here studied 206 women for the vitamin D levels in their second trimester of pregnancy and found only 21 (10.5 percent) of the women had adequate levels of this sunshine vitamin, HealthDay news reported.

Scientists also examined data from 135 babies between the ages of seven and 16 months and found that 21.6 percent of them had tooth enamel defects and 33.6 percent had early childhood tooth decay. Mothers of children with tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than mothers of children with healthy teeth, the study found.

The results also revealed that mothers of children who had enamel problems showed slightly lower vitamin D concentration during pregnancy than their problem-free counterparts. Having enamel defects significantly increased the risk of developing tooth decay, according to the research.

Women in the study who consumed more milk and took pre-natal vitamins had higher vitamin D levels. It is the first to analyze vitamin D levels during pregnancy and how they might influence a baby's early dental health.

The study was expected to be presented Friday at the International Association for Dental Research in Toronto.