Mother's Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Affect Her Baby's Dental Health

Low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect primary tooth calcification, leading to enamel defects, which are a risk factor for early-childhood tooth decay.

Investigators from the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg and Victoria) recently presented* the results of a study they conducted to determine the vitamin D status of pregnant women, the incidence of enamel defects and early-childhood tooth decay among their infants, and the relationship with pre-natal vitamin D levels.

Two hundred six pregnant women in their second trimester participated in the study. Only 21 women (10.5%) were found to have adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D concentrations were related to the frequency of milk consumption and pre-natal vitamin use.

The investigators examined 135 infants (55.6% male) at 16.1 ± 7.4 months of age, and found that 21.6% of them had enamel defects, while 33.6% had early-childhood tooth decay. Mothers of children with enamel defects had lower, but not significantly different, mean vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy than those of children without defects.

However, mothers of children with early-childhood tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those whose children were cavity-free. Infants with enamel defects were significantly more likely to have early-childhood tooth decay.

This is the first study to show that maternal vitamin D levels may have an influence on primary teeth and the development of early-childhood tooth decay.

It was funded by the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health, the Dentistry Canada Fund, the University of Manitoba, and Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Hypoglycemia in Pregnancy

Hypoglycemia is a condition that is caused by low blood sugar levels and excessive insulin. While it can occur at any time, it tends to be common during pregnancy. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, lightheadedness, shaking, headache, sweating, confusion and changes in vision. If you experience these symptoms, mention it to your health care provider.

There are several causes of hypoglycemia. Diabetic women experience it when they take too much insulin. Other causes include skipping meals and not eating enough food.

For many women, pregnancy makes hypoglycemia worse, particularly in the first trimester. In some cases, women have their first experiences with a drop in blood sugar during pregnancy. This may only occur during pregnancy or may continue to be a problem after pregnancy.

Fortunately, there appear to be no serious threats to the baby if mommy is hypoglycemic. However, it can be a problem for you. Therefore, it is important that you learn to control your blood sugar. For most women, this can be done through proper diet and regular meals and snacks.

A drop in blood sugar is most common when you go long periods of time without eating. Your doctor will likely recommend eating six to eight times each day. This will be a combination of meals and snacks. Snacks should not be junk food, but should be fresh fruits, vegetables and protein.

You will get to a point where you know your blood sugar is low before the symptoms get too severe. This is when you need to eat as soon as possible. Waiting will just result in your blood sugar continuing to drop and the symptoms getting worse. It is a good idea to carry a snack in your purse and a juice box when you are out. If you feel your blood sugar dropping, you will have quick access to a snack at all times.

Your doctor will give you information on diet to control your hypoglycemia. If it continues to be a problem, you may be referred to a nutritionist. She can help you set up a meal plan to keep your blood sugar steady, which can prevent symptoms.