Malnourishment in a population of young children with severe early childhood caries.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the nutritional status of children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) using several clinical measurements.


METHODS
Children aged 2 to 6 years with S-ECC were measured for height, weight, triceps skinfolds (TSF), and measurement of upper mid-arm circumference (MAC). Blood samples assessed: (1) hemoglobin; (2) mean corpuscular volume (MCV); (3) serum ferritin; and (4) serum albumin. Weight-for-height was converted into ideal body weight (IBW) percentiles. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as kg/m2. TSF and MAC were converted into measurement of arm muscle circumference (MAMC). All measurements were compared with population reference values.


RESULTS
Using weight for height centiles, 17% were diagnosed as being malnourished and 66% as within normal limits. Using BMI centiles, only 4% were identified as being malnourished and 75% as being normal. Conversely, the body fat of 24% was assessed as low (<10th percentile). Serum albumin was low for 16%. The majority had evidence of inadequate iron intake with low serum ferritin (80%), iron depletion (24%), iron deficiency (6%), or iron deficiency anemia (11%).


CONCLUSIONS
All tests detected levels of malnutrition, with blood tests finding the most severe cases. The results suggest that severe Early Childhood Caries may be a risk marker for iron deficiency anemia. Since iron deficiency has permanent effects on growth and development, pediatric dentists should recommend assessment of iron levels in S-ECC patients regardless of their anthropometric appearance.
Clarke
Martha
M
Community Dental Services Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. martha.clarke@utoronto.ca
Locker
David
D
Berall
Glenn
G
Pencharz
Paul
P
Kenny
David J
DJ
Judd
Peter
P
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005293:Ferritins