Open AccessMaternal calcium supplementation during pregnancy and dental caries of children at 12 years of age: follow‐up of a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Bergel Eduardo,
Gibbons Luz,
Rasines María G.,
Luetich Alejandra,
Belizán José M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349.2010.518228
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , placebo , randomized controlled trial , offspring , dentistry , population , obstetrics , pediatrics , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , environmental health
Objectives . To evaluate if calcium supplementation during pregnancy could have any influence on primary dentition measured as the reduction of dental caries of the child. Design . Individual randomized controlled trial. Setting . One hospital in Rosario, Argentina. Population . Random sample of 195 12‐year‐old children from a follow‐up study of 614 women who were randomized during pregnancy to calcium supplementation or placebo. Methods . An independent researcher blinded to the group where the mothers were assigned performed a dental examination of the children. Main outcome measures . Proportion of children with at least one decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) and mean number of decayed, missing or filled surfaces (DMFS/dmfs) per children. Results . Ninety‐eight children were assessed in the calcium supplementation group and 97 in the placebo group. 63.3% of the children whose mother took calcium supplementation had at least one DMFT/dmft compared to 86.6% in the placebo group (<0.001). The children whose mother received the intervention had a 27% reduction in the risk of developing at least one DMFT/dmft (RR: 0.73, CI 95%: [0.62; 0.87]). Conclusions . This study shows a modeling effect of calcium intake during pregnancy on dental caries of the offspring. At around 12 years of age children whose mothers received calcium supplementation when pregnant showed a significant reduction in dental caries.