Fight Dental Caries with Vitamin D
Vitamin D most notably increases bone health and helps to prevent osteoporosis. It facilitates the absorption of calcium and phosphate through the intestines. According to an article in the Journal of Nutrition by G. Wolf, Adolf Windaus discovered the vitamin in sterols of fatty tissue of animals and in plants in 1928. At the time, it was understood that certain dietary deficiencies could lead to diseases such as rickets and scurvy. The recognition that Vitamin D could help with common childhood ailments evolved to the connection with dental caries. Relating to oral health, at least 20 studies were done after the discovery of Vitamin D.
The studies were preformed in North America, Europe and Asia, with the most recent one concluding in 1989. These studies or controlled clinical trials, were performed in various ways and included approximately 3,000 children. The results were promising; however, contradictory interpretation between the American Dental Association and the American Medical Association as well as the US National Research Council caused these earlier results to be dismissed and categorized as "unresolved."
Feeling that the results were promising despite the flaws and varying methodologies, Dr. Philippe Hujoel, at the University of Washington, began a systematic examination of available data from the previous studies and compared them with populations who did not supplement with Vitamin D. The results were highlighted in a recent edition of Dental Nursing and quote the observations of Dr. Michael Holick, a Professor of Medicine at Boston University Medical Center. He stated: "the findings from the University of Washington reaffirm the importance of Vitamin[sic] D for dental health."