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| OVERVIEW |
| Dental caries, the most common chronic disease in children and adults, affected 46% of youth and 90% of adults. It is influenced by genetics, behavior, socioeconomic status, and access to dental care. |
| Nutrition is crucial for healthy tooth development, with deficiencies increasing caries risk. While the role of sugar in enamel demineralization is well-known, research suggests that diet and nutrition, particularly from pasture-raised animal foods, may have a broader systemic impact on dental health. |
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| Effect of Vitamin A & D on dental health |
| Vitamins A and D are vital for dental health, supporting tooth and bone mineralization. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus, while vitamin A aids in dental and skeletal growth. Deficiencies in these vitamins can increase the risk of dental caries and cause enamel hypoplasia. |
| Some studies link low vitamin A and D levels to higher caries rates, though not all findings agree. Early research showed that animals fed diets rich in these vitamins had healthier teeth, while deficiencies led to poor tooth development and increased caries. A balance of vitamins A, D, calcium, and phosphorus is essential for preventing caries. |
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| Anti nutrients |
| While a diet rich in plant-based foods can help prevent chronic illnesses, these foods also contain "anti-nutrients" that can negatively affect health. Anti-nutrients, such as phytates, tannins, oxalates, and lectins, are natural compounds in plants that can interfere with nutrient absorption and bioavailability. This interference may affect nutritional status and potentially influence dental health. However, the impact of anti-nutrients on dental caries development has not been extensively studied in modern research. |
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| Animal Studies on Tooth Development and Anti-Nutrients |
| A 1926 study by M. Mellanby found that rabbits fed diets rich in calcium and supplemented with cod liver oil or egg yolks had healthy tooth calcification, while those lacking these animal-source foods (ASF) had poor tooth development. Green vegetables provided limited benefits. |
| Studies on puppies showed that diets high in cereals, particularly oats, had "anti-calcifying effects," which could be counteracted by sufficient vitamin D. Whole grains, containing phytates, interfered with mineral absorption, while refined grains did not. Recent research confirms that phytates reduce calcium absorption, and other anti-nutrients like lectins and tannins also affect nutrient absorption, impacting dental and bone health. |
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| Child Studies on Vitamins A and D in Dental Health |
| M. Mellanby’s studies in the 1920s showed that diets rich in vitamins A and D, along with calcium, reduced the progression of dental caries in children. Children with diets high in these nutrients (from sources like milk, eggs, and cod liver oil) had fewer cavities and more tooth improvement compared to those with lower nutrient intake and higher phytic acid. |
| Further studies confirmed that vitamin D supplementation helped arrest dental caries and supported tooth regeneration through secondary dentin formation. These findings contributed to public health changes, such as calcium fortification of wheat flour in the UK. |
| Studies by other researchers in the 1930s and 1940s supported Mellanby’s conclusions, showing that vitamin D significantly reduced cavity formation in children. |
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| Antioxidant Vitamins C and E and Dental Health |
| Emerging research suggests that higher levels of antioxidant vitamins C and E in saliva may lower the risk of dental caries. Studies in children from India and Saudi Arabia revealed that those with active caries had significantly reduced levels of these vitamins. Historical studies, particularly Howe’s work in the 1920s, indicated a protective role for vitamin C against caries progression. |
| Howe found that adding orange juice to guinea pig diets halted caries, while sugar did not worsen caries when overall nutrition was adequate. Similar findings in monkeys emphasized the importance of nutrient interplay, especially calcium and vitamin C, for dental health. In the 1930s, Hanke discovered that individuals with caries were often vitamin C deficient; providing orange juice to institutionalized children resulted in a significant arrest of caries in about 50% of participants. |
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| Observational and Experimental Studies on Vitamins A, D, and K2 |
| Dr. Weston A. Price conducted research in the 1920s and 1930s, examining the impact of nutrition on dental health across various cultures. He discovered that traditional diets rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2 were associated with low rates of dental caries, particularly among indigenous populations. For instance, Alaskan groups consuming traditional foods had caries rates of only 0.1-0.3%, while those on modern diets showed significantly higher rates (21.1%). |
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| Key Findings |
| Nutritional Practices: Indigenous diets, high in marine life and unprocessed foods, contributed to better dental health. |
| Vitamin K2: Identified as a critical factor for dental health, found in foods like grass-fed dairy, eggs, and organ meats. |
| Experimental Protocols: Price's reinforced nutrition program, which included cod liver oil and butter oil, demonstrated significant reductions in dental caries among participants over time. |
| Supporting Studies: Other researchers, such as Boyd & Drain (1928), also reported arrest of caries through nutrient-rich diets, highlighting the benefits of fat-soluble vitamins. |
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| Vitamin K2 may improve tooth mineralization and antioxidant capacity in the hypothalamus, potentially protecting against sugar-induced damage. |
| Overall, the evidence suggests that dietary interventions focused on enhancing vitamin and antioxidant intake may serve as a proactive strategy for preventing and managing dental caries, advocating for a return to nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods for optimal oral health. |
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| GGI-CO-A1-AQS-300032384-ELC-I24-1518 |
| Reference: |
| Malin AJ, Wang Z, Khan D, McKune SL. The Potential Systemic Role of Diet in Dental Caries Development and Arrest: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024;16(10):1463. Published 2024 May 13. doi:10.3390/nu16101463 |
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