Malnutrition‐related early childhood exposures and enamel defects in the permanent dentition: A longitudinal study from the Bolivian Amazon. Issue 2 (28th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masterson, Erin E.; Fitzpatrick, Annette L.; Enquobahrie, Daniel A.; Mancl, Lloyd A.; Conde, Esther; Hujoel, Philippe P.
• Is Part Of: American journal of physical anthropology. Volume 164:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 416
• Page End: 423
• Publication Date: 2017-07-28
• Subjects: dental enamel defects -- infectious diseases -- parasitic worms -- stunted growth; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Anthropology -- Periodicals; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 599.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9483

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: We investigated the relationship between early childhood malnutrition‐related measures and subsequent enamel defects in the permanent dentition. Materials and Methods: This cohort study included 349 Amerindian adolescents (10–17 years, 52% male) from the Bolivian Amazon. Exposures included: stunted growth (height‐for‐age z ‐scores), underweight (weight‐for‐age z ‐scores), anemia (hemoglobin), acute inflammation (C‐reactive protein) and parasitic infection (hookworm). We measured the occurrence (no/yes) and extent (<1/3, 1/3–2/3, >2/3) of enamel defects. We estimated associations between childhood exposures and enamel defect measures using log‐binomial and multinomial logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of an enamel defect characterized by an orange peel texture on a large central depression on the labial surface of the central maxillary incisors was 92.3%. During childhood (1–4 years), participants had a high prevalence of stunted growth (75.2%), anemia (56.9%), acute inflammation (39.1%), and hookworm infection (49.6%). We observed associations between childhood height‐for‐age (OR = 0.65; P = 0.028 for >2/3 extent vs. no EH) and gastrointestinal hookworm infection (OR = 3.43; P = 0.035 for >2/3 extent vs. no defects or <1/3 extent) with enamel defects. Discussion: The study describes a possibly novel form of enamel hypoplasia and provides evidence for associations of malnutrition‐related measures in early childhood, including stunted growth and parasitic helminth infection, with the observed enamel defects.