Lower levels of vitamin D being linked to increased risk of caries among children: Study

Vitamin D and calcium are necessary for tooth health, and a lack of these can cause substantial changes. Dental caries, or tooth decay, is a common childhood illness that causes pain, difficulty chewing, and a lower quality of life.

There is a scarcity of research on the correlation between vitamin D and calcium levels and dental caries risk among children in western Maharashtra. This article aims to study the correlation between vitamin D and calcium levels in serum with the risk of dental caries in children in western Maharashtra. The study was conducted on 124 children whose blood samples were taken to test for serum vitamin D and serum calcium levels.

The DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth)/DMFS (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces) scores of all subjects were recorded. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 10.04 ± 0.91 years. A statistically significant negative linear relationship was found between serum vitamin D, calcium, and dental caries experience (DMFT and DMFS scores). DMFT and DMFS scores for dental caries decrease as blood levels of vitamin D and calcium rise.

The logistic regression study indicated that serum vitamin D has a negative regression coefficient (-0.23) and an odds ratio of 0.4, demonstrating that caries risk and vitamin D levels rise in opposite directions at 60%. The study shows a significant correlation between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of dental caries in children in western Maharashtra.

Reference:

Sudrik S S, Gugawad S, Shashikiran N, et al. (December 24, 2024) Correlation Between Serum Vitamin D and Calcium Levels and the Risk of Dental Caries in Children in Western Maharashtra, India. Cureus 16(12): e76340. doi:10.7759/cureus.76340