Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and Victoria say enamel defects are a risk factor for early tooth decay in children.

The researchers tested vitamin D levels in 206 pregnant women in their second trimester and found 21 women, or just 10.5 percent, were found to have adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D concentrations were related to the frequency of milk consumption and pre-natal vitamin use.

The investigators examined 135 children and found that 21.6 percent of them had enamel defects, while 33.6 had early-childhood tooth decay.

Mothers of children with enamel defects had lower, but not significantly different, mean vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy than those of children without defects.

However, mothers of children with early-childhood tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those whose children were cavity-free. Infants with enamel defects were significantly more likely to have early-childhood tooth decay.

The findings were presented at the 86th general session of the International Association for Dental Research in Toronto.