(04-02-13) Vitamin D cuts cavities in half

by Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor

(NaturalNews) With less time spent outdoors and the constant use of sunscreen
by many, vitamin D levels are decreasing in many populations. Meanwhile, the
number of cavities in children's teeth has gone up. Is there a connection? A
new review of multiple studies of dental caries, or tooth decay, and vitamin D
indicates the answer is yes. In fact, studies of kids in many countries link
vitamin D intake to a whopping 50 percent reduction in cavities.

The review, just published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, covers 24
controlled clinical trials involving about 3,000 kids and spans the years from
the 1920s to the 1980s. The trials studied increased vitamin D levels in
children by using supplemental UV radiation or by supplementing the children's
diets with cod-liver oil or vitamin D supplements. "My main goal was to
summarize the clinical trial database so that we could take a fresh look at
this vitamin D question," Dr. Philippe Hujoel of the University of Washington,
who conducted the review, said in a media statement.

This is not the first time vitamin D was thought to stop cavities. Back in
1950, the American Medical Association and the U.S. National Research Council
concluded vitamin D was beneficial in reducing dental caries. However, the
American Dental Association (the powerful professional and lobbying group of
dentists) fought this conclusion and the information about vitamin D reducing
cavities basically disappeared -- while dentists aggressively promoted
expensive fluoride treatments and continued to drill teeth and fill more and
more cavities .

"Such inconsistent conclusions by different organizations do not make much
sense from an evidence-based perspective," Hujoel stated.

Hujoel's findings may not make some dentists happy but medical professionals
and scientists who are familiar with past vitamin D studies aren't surprised.
Dr. Michael Hollick, professor of medicine at the Boston University Medical
Center, said in a press statement that "the findings from the University of
Washington reaffirm the importance of vitamin D for dental health..children who
are vitamin D deficient have poor and delayed teeth eruption and are prone to
dental caries."

Dr. Hujoel's take away message from his review is this advice for pregnant
women or young mothers: realize that vitamin D is essential to your offspring's
health. "Vitamin D does lead to teeth and bones that are better mineralized,"
he concluded.

As Natural News has covered extensively, vitamin D deficiency may well be a
huge factor in many diseases and conditions that have increased over the years
as sunlight exposure has decreased. For example, studies have linked a lack of
the vitamin to breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease risk.

Sources:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/uow-nra112712.php
http://www.naturalnews.com/023264_Vitamin_D_cancer_brst.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/028690_Rheumatoid_arthritis_vitamin_D.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/025069.html

News

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