We all are aware of the important role that vitamin D plays in our life. Apart from being helpful in development of bones, it’s also believed to prevent type 1 diabetes and osteoporosis. Women especially have always been warned of its significance because as they near their menopause, their bones begin to become fragile and weak. This is the reason why so many women become conscious of their vitamin D levels and many other issues as they reach middle age.

Vitamin D levels of a Mother and Newborn

It has been found recently through a Canadian study that babies born to mothers with low Vitamin D levels at the time of pregnancy, may be at a high risk of developing tooth enamel defects as well as childhood tooth decay. Researchers at Manitbota University after analyzing the Vitamin D levels of 206 pregnant women in their second trimester have found that only 21 among them had sufficient levels of Vitamin D. Also it was found that the women’s vitamin D levels were directly related to prenatal vitamin use and frequency of consumption of milk.

Further Examination

Researchers also looked into the case of 135 infants and found that 33.6 percent among them had early childhood tooth decay and 21.6 percent had enamel defects. Mothers of children suffering from enamel defects showed lower levels of Vitamin D during their pregnancy compared to the mothers of children who had no enamel defects. Likewise, mothers of babies suffering from early childhood tooth decay also had very low levels of Vitamin D compared to mothers of cavity free babies. Researchers also said infants with enamel defects were more likely to develop childhood tooth decay. This study is to be presented at the General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, Toronto. It will be the first study that shows pregnant women’s levels of Vitamin D may have direct bearing on their infant’s dental health.