Abstract
The study tried to determine if malnutrition (underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight) and enamel defects (enamel hypoplasia, hypomineralized second molar, amelogenesis imperfecta, fluorosis) were associated with early childhood caries (ECC). The study also examined whether malnutrition was associated with the presence of enamel defects in 0-5-year-old children. The study was a secondary analysis of primary data of a cross-sectional study assessing the association between maternal psychosocial health and ECC in sub-urban Nigerian population collected in December 2018 and January 2019. One hundred and fifty nine children were recruited. Exploratory variables were malnutrition and enamel defects. The outcome variables were the prevalence of ECC in 0-2-year-old, 3-5-year-old, and 0-5-year-old children. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was used to determine the associations, and socioeconomic status, oral hygiene status, and frequency of in-between-meals sugar consumption were adjusted for. The adjusted prevalence ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p values were calculated. The prevalence of ECC was 2.1% in 0-2-year-old children and 4.9% in 3-5-year-old children. In adjusted models, underweight, stunting, and wasting/overweight were not significant risk indicators for ECC in either age group. 0-2-year-old children who had amelogenesis imperfecta (p<0.001) and fluorosis (p<0.001) were more likely to have ECC than were children who did not have these lesions. 3-5-year-old children who had hypoplasia (p = 0.004), amelogenesis imperfecta (p<0.001) and fluorosis (p<0.001) were more likely to have ECC than were children who did not have these lesions. 0-5-year-old children with hypoplasia (p<0.001) and fluorosis (p<0.001) were more likely to have ECC than were children who did not have these lesions. There were significant associations between various types of malnutrition and various types of enamel defects. Although different types of malnutrition were associated with enamel defects, and enamel defects were associated with ECC, malnutrition was not associated with ECC. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between malnutrition and genetically and toxin-induced enamel defects.
Highlights
Malnutrition—measured by three anthropometric variables for stunting, wasting, and underweight—is a major health problem for infants, toddlers and preschool children globally [1,2] and in Nigeria [3]
Different types of malnutrition were associated with enamel defects, and enamel defects were associated with early childhood caries (ECC), malnutrition was not associated with ECC
When the model was fully adjusted for ECC risk factors and socio-economic status (Model 3), children with hypoplasia (APR: 3.84; 95% CI: 1.60–9.19; p = 0.003), amelogenesis imperfecta (p
Summary
Malnutrition—measured by three anthropometric variables for stunting, wasting, and underweight—is a major health problem for infants, toddlers and preschool children globally [1,2] and in Nigeria [3]. Growth failure is associated with oral-health disorders, such as enamel defects [9]. Enamel hypoplasia is associated with malnutrition [10] due to the disturbance of ameloblastic activity during the secretory phase of amelogenesis [11]. Enamel hypoplasia is associated with chronic and acute malnutrition [13, 14], and with bacterial and viral diseases [15, 16] and with very low birth weight [17], which are prevalent in Nigeria [18]. The prevalence of enamel hypoplasia in Nigeria was 4% in the primary dentition of pre-school children [19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
