Higher Maternal Vitamin D During Pregnancy Tied to Less Childhood Tooth Decay

Published in the JAMA Network Open journal, this study examined whether a mother’s vitamin D status during pregnancy is linked to the risk and severity of early childhood caries in her child. The researchers followed 4,109 mother-child pairs from early pregnancy through to dental assessments in early childhood. Early childhood caries, a common and consequential condition affecting young children worldwide, was identified in 960 of the children, while 3,149 remained caries-free.

Maternal blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured in the first, second, and third trimesters, allowing the researchers to assess trimester-specific associations. Higher maternal vitamin D levels were consistently associated with lower odds of early childhood caries in offspring, with the strongest and most consistent links seen in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Higher maternal vitamin D levels – particularly in late pregnancy – were also associated with fewer decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth in children. The study authors concluded that integrating vitamin D screening and supplementation into routine prenatal care, including before conception, could be a practical and effective strategy to help reduce the burden of early childhood dental caries.

To learn more about the importance and benefits of micronutrients during pregnancy, read parts one and two of the special pregnancy feature article on our website.