Diet Strongly Influences Enamel Hypoplasia Risk in Children: Study

Dietary intake was classified into groups based on sugar frequency, calcium-rich foods, and vitamin D levels. Enamel hypoplasia was graded using the Modified Developmental Defects of Enamel Index (DDE Index). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression to evaluate associations. Results: Out of 200 children, 72 (36%) exhibited signs of enamel hypoplasia. High sugar consumption was significantly associated with enamel hypoplasia (P < 0.001), with 48% of children in the high-sugar group presenting with defects compared to 18% in the low-sugar group.

Calcium-rich diets were protective, as only 10% of children with adequate calcium intake showed enamel hypoplasia (P < 0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was identified in 62% of affected children, indicating a strong correlation (P < 0.01). Logistic regression revealed that high sugar intake increased the odds of enamel hypoplasia by 2.8 times (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6–4.7). Diet plays a pivotal role in the development of enamel hypoplasia in children. High sugar consumption and vitamin D deficiency are key contributors, while calcium-rich diets offer protection.

Reference:

Meena M, Aijazuddin A, Kumawat R, Saxena S, Rajput T, Jaidupally RR. Assessing the Impact of Diet on Enamel Hypoplasia in Children. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2025 Jun;17(Suppl 2):S1972-S1974. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1818_24. Epub 2025 Jun 18. PMID: 40655848; PMCID: PMC12244768.