Untreated caries and serum vitamin D levels in children and youth of the United States: NHANES 2013-2014.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2014). In total, 3,072 participants with ages ranging from 1 to 19 years were included in our sample. The main dependent variable, untreated caries, was defined as having at least one untreated carious surface in any tooth. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was categorized into four groups: ≥75 nmol/ml, 50-74.9 nmol/ml, 25-49.9 nmol/ml, and <25 nmol/ml. Data were analyzed using a binary logistic regression. For children aged 1-5 years, age (OR = 1.68, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.38-2.04) and low levels of vitamin D (25-49.9 nmol/ml, and <25 nmol/ml: OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.06-6.13) were associated with untreated caries. For children aged 6-11 years, low levels of vitamin D (50-74.9 nmol/ml: OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.82) remained associated with untreated caries. No associations were found in those between 12 and 19 years of age. Our findings show an association between low levels of 25(OH)D and untreated caries in children between 1 and 11 years of age, suggesting that this nutrient might interfere in the caries process.