Association of vitamin D and dental caries in

children: Findings from the National Health and

Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006
Karin Herzog. Author links open the author workspace. DDS, MSDOpens the author
workspaceOpens the author workspaceJoAnna M. Scott. Author links open the author
workspace. PhDPhilippe Hujoel. Author links open the author workspace. PhD, DDS,
MSDAna Lucia Seminario. Author links open the author workspace. DDS, PhD
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2015.12.013Get rights and content

Abstract
Background
The authors sought to determine associations between serum vitamin D
levels and dental caries in noninstitutionalized children aged 5 to 12
years in the United States.

Methods
The authors used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,
2005-2006, data to study childhood caries and vitamin D. Vitamin D
deficiency and inadequacy were defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
(25[OH]D) less than 30 nanomoles per liter and between 30 and 49
nmol/L, respectively. Associations between vitamin D and caries
experience (a combined measure of untreated caries or restorations)
were examined after adjustment for confounders using multivariate
logistic regression at a critical value of 5%. Sample weights were used
to generate nationally representative estimates.

Results
The overall prevalence of serum 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L and
25(OH)D between 30 and 49 nmol/L among 5- to 12-year-olds was 3%
and 16%, respectively. Prevalence of 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L and
25(OH)D between 30 and 49 nmol/L among children with caries
experience was 2% and 16%, respectively. Multivariate logistic
regression analysis found no significant association between vitamin D
and caries experience (P = .78). Furthermore, this association was not
significant after adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, ratio of family
income to poverty threshold, and sugar consumption (P = .46).

Conclusions
The authors did not find a significant association between 25(OH)D
status and caries experience in US children who participated in
NHANES, 2005-2006.

Practical Implications
The authors findings do not support existing evidence of an association
between caries and vitamin D.

Key Words
Dental caries
vitamin D
pediatrics

Abbreviation Key
BSE
Basic screening examination
DMFT
Decayed, missing, and filled teeth
NA
Not applicable
NHANES
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
25(OH)D
25-hydroxyvitamin D
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Vitae
Dr. Herzog was a pediatric dental resident, Department of Pediatric
Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, when this article was
written. She now is a clinical instructor, Department of Dentistry, Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell
Medical College, New York, NY.

Dr. Scott is an acting assistant professor and the director of graduate

research, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA.

Dr. Hujoel is a professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences,

University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Dr. Seminario is an assistant professor, Department of Pediatric

Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Disclosure. None of the authors reported any disclosures.

Copyright 2016 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.