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The Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Women and Its Relationship with Umbilical Cord Vitamin D Levels and Primary Tooth Eruption in Infants

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Neonatal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Social Medicine, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/smsj.2025.104104.1563

Abstract

Introduction: Tooth eruption and development serve as indicators of optimal child growth and are influenced by various factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord blood vitamin D levels and the eruption of deciduous teeth.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 pregnant women, referred to Hafez Hospital in Shiraz from June 2021 to May 2022. A 5-cc blood sample was collected from each mother and from the infants’ umbilical cord after delivery to measure vitamin D levels. Mothers were asked to report the emergence or non-emergence of the primary tooth eruption at the end of their infants’ sixth month of age. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 26).
Results: A significant positive correlation (r=0.8, P<0.001) was found between the mean maternal vitamin D levels (21.85±7.3) and umbilical cord vitamin D levels (35.95±11.97). Both maternal and infant vitamin D levels were significantly associated with primary tooth eruption during the first six months of life (P=0.001). Maternal vitamin D levels were also associated with insufficient vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy (P<0.05). Male infants experienced earlier tooth eruption than females (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant association was found between tooth eruption age and number of pregnancies (P=0.94) or infant birth weight (P=0.13). 
Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a high prevalence (85%) of vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL) in pregnant women. Furthermore, vitamin D levels during the fetal period could influence the timing of primary tooth eruption, which is an important indicator of optimal child growth and development (P<0.001).

Keywords

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Available Online from 12 October 2025
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