Re-Examining the Association Between Vitamin D and Childhood Caries

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2015 Dec 23

PMID 26692013

Citations 18

Authors

Tom Dudding

Steve J Thomas

Karen Duncan

Debbie A Lawlor

Nicholas J Timpson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported an inverse association between vitamin D and childhood dental caries, but whether this is causal is unclear.

Objective: To determine the causal effect of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration on dental caries experience, early caries onset and the requirement for a dental general anesthetic.

Design: A Mendelian randomization study was undertaken, using genetic variants known to be associated with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in 5,545 European origin children from the South West of England. Data on caries and related characteristics were obtained from parental and child completed questionnaires between 38 and 91 months and clinical assessments in a random 10% sample at 31, 44 and 61 months.

Results: In multivariable confounder adjusted analyses no strong evidence for an association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with caries experience or severity was found but there was evidence for an association with early caries onset, or having a general anesthetic for dental problems. In Mendelian randomization analysis the odds ratio for caries experience per 10 nmol/L increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.83, 1.05; P = 0.26) and the odds ratio for dental general anaesthetic per 10 nmol/L increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.75, 1.22; P = 0.72).

Conclusions: This Mendelian randomization study provides little evidence to support an inverse causal effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on dental caries. However, the estimates are imprecise and a larger study is required to refine these analyses.

Citing Articles

The Role of Serum Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D Receptor () Gene Variants on Dental Caries.

Sengun Berber E, Koc F, Aykut A, Barutcuoglu B, Ertugrul F, Tosyali M Children (Basel). 2025; 12(1).

PMID: 39857837 PMC: 11763888. DOI: 10.3390/children12010007.

The Impact of Vitamin Deficiencies on Oral Manifestations in Children.

Lesic S, Ivanisevic Z, Spiljak B, Tomas M, Sostaric M, Vcev A Dent J (Basel). 2024; 12(4).

PMID: 38668021 PMC: 11049216. DOI: 10.3390/dj12040109.

Vitamin D and human health: evidence from Mendelian randomization studies.

Fang A, Zhao Y, Yang P, Zhang X, Giovannucci E Eur J Epidemiol. 2024; 39(5):467-490.

PMID: 38214845 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-023-01075-4.

Correlation between vitamin D levels in serum and the risk of dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Li Z, Wei X, Shao Z, Liu H, Bai S BMC Oral Health. 2023; 23(1):768.

PMID: 37858104 PMC: 10585927. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03422-z.

The Impact of Prenatal Vitamin D on Enamel Defects and Tooth Erosion: A Systematic Review.

Tapalaga G, Bumbu B, Reddy S, Vutukuru S, Nalla A, Bratosin F Nutrients. 2023; 15(18).

PMID: 37764647 PMC: 10537257. DOI: 10.3390/nu15183863.

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