Dental caries and vitamin D3 in children with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Vitamin D may prevent dental caries. To date, no attempts have been made to examine the correlation between the incidence of caries and the concentrations of vitamin D in children with pituitary growth hormone deficiency.The study observed patients of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the University Paediatric Hospital of the Medical University of Lublin treated with human recombinant growth hormone for pituitary growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The study was conducted between October 2014 and June 2015. The study group consisted of 121 children and adolescents (6–17 years old), including 56 children from rural areas and 65 children from urban areas. The study group was stratified by area of residence.In our study, the increase in vitamin D3 [25(OH)D] levels reduced the D component by 0.66 per each 10 ng/mL of vitamin D3 concentration. The percentage of children with active caries in rural areas is 91.07% (n = 51), which is significantly higher than the percentage of children with active caries in urban areas (81.54%, n = 53).To date, information regarding the potential possibility of reducing the incidence of dental caries by means of increasing the levels of vitamin D was sidelined by paediatricians and dentists alike. Therefore, this aspect of caries prevention should be highlighted.

Vitamin D3 and Dental Caries in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

“…Vitamin D 3 levels were analysed in four categories according to the range of concentrations (0–10 ng/mL—severe deficit, 11–20 ng/mL—deficit, 21–30 ng/mL—suboptimal concentration, and above 30 ng/mL—normal concentration). Vitamin D 3 concentrations in particular categories (0–10 ng/mL, 11–20 ng/mL, 21–30 ng/mL, and above 30 ng/mL) varied in a statistically significant manner (Pearson's Chi 2 test = 8.90; df = 3; p = 0.031; Figure 1) [18].…”

“…In subjects from rural regions, we demonstrated a significant influence of vitamin D 3 concentration in specific categories on mean DMFT index. Mean DMFT index decreased with an increase in vitamin D 3 level (categories) (univariate analysis of variance ANOVA F = 2.95; p = 0.049; Table 2) [18]. On the other hand, in a population of patients from urban areas, there was no statistically significant impact of vitamin D 3 concentration in the analysed concentration categories on mean DMFT index (univariate analysis of variance ANOVA F = 0.44; p = 0.73).…”

The Role of Vitamins in Oral Health. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Another study found a direct correlation of serum vitamin D levels in children, 6-17 years of age. The authors found a drop in DMFT of 0.66 at each 10 ng/ml increase of vitamin D [60]. Regarding the correlation of vitamin C and the occurrence of caries lesions there are controversial results.…”

“…Vitamin D treatment in children or in mothers during pregnancy were associated to caries incidence or experience in five papers [60,61,[64][65][66]. Two cross-sectional studies [67,71] were done associating vitamin C intake and caries (levels and experience) and erosion in children.…”

Vitamin D and growth hormone in children: a review of the current scientific knowledge

“…Most of the studies about vitamin D and GHD in children were conducted between 2014 and 2018 on the one hand or before 1997 on the other [ 72 – 84 ].…”