title: Effect of early childhood protein-energy malnutrition on permanent dentition dental caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the effect of early childhood protein-energy malnutrition (ECPEM) on decayed, missing, filled tooth (DMFT) scores in the permanent dentition of rural Haitian adolescents aged 11-19 years (n = 1,006).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from a retrospective cohort that was developed from the Haitian Health Foundation database and merged records on weight-for-age covering the birth through 5-year-old period for all enrolled participants. Dental examinations and interviewer-administered structured questionnaires on demographic and socioeconomic status, and relative sugar consumption were completed in 1,058 participants aged 11-19 years. The ECPEM was defined based on weight-for-age of the subjects during their first 5 years of life that were converted to Z-scores based on the National Center for Health Statistics referent database. Descriptive statistics were calculated. DMFT was regressed on ECPEM adjusting for age, sex, current body mass index Z-score, socioeconomic status, relative sugar consumption, and number of permanent teeth present assuming a Poisson distribution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionable malnutrition [rate ratio (RR) = 0.72; 95 percent confidence interval (CI), 0.61-0.86] and malnutrition (RR = 0.58; 95 percent CI, 0.49-0.69) were associated with a statistically significant lower DMFT in Haitian adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECPEM status is inversely associated with DMFT in Haitian participants. Further follow-up of these same participants will be recommended to evaluate the potential caries catch-up effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Primary Care, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Elisandra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyes-Perez
authors.forename: Luisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Borrell
authors.forename: Ralph V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Bette J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gebrian
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prophete
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Psoter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Poisson regression; dental caries; early childhood malnutrition; enamel formation; permanent dentition