Mom's vitamin D during pregnancy strengthens kid's teeth

Higher intakes of vitamin D during pregnancy may lead to stronger teeth in children, according to research presented at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Toronto, Canada.

"This study shows for the first time that maternal vitamin-D levels may have an influence on the primary dentition and the development of early-childhood-caries," wrote Robert Schroth in the research abstract.

Schroth and co-workers recruited 206 pregnant women during their second trimester, and assessed dietary habits using questionnaires. Blood samples were taken in order to measure vitamin D levels as 25(OH)D.

Just over 33 per cent of the infants, examined at an average age of 16.1 months, were found to early childhood caries. The mothers of these children were found to have significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than mothers of caries-free children (43.9 versus 52.8 nmol/L, respectively).