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Caries

231 - Nutritional Deficiencies and Their Effect on Early Childhood Caries

Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM PST
Has Audio
Abstract:


Purpose: The etiology of early childhood caries (ECC) is multifactorial, including microbiological, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors. ECC is closely associated with nutritional status and early growth patterns in young children. The purpose of this retrospective chart review is to evaluate the association between nutritional deficiencies, specifically iron deficiency (ID) and failure to thrive (FTT), with ECC among pediatric patients.



Methods: Patients aged 0 to 5 years old diagnosed with FTT who received care at the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Grow Clinic between January 2018 and December 2022 were included and compared with age-matched controls. Variables, including gender, primary language spoken, and insurance type, were recorded and adjusted for the analysis. Chi-square testing and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations between nutritional deficiencies and ECC.



Results: A total of 217 subjects met the inclusion criteria, of which 33.1% had FTT, 17.1% had iron deficiency, and 25.8% were diagnosed with ECC. The prevalence of iron deficiency was similar between FTT and non-FTT patients (16.7% vs. 16.6%, respectively). Chi-square analysis demonstrated no statistically significant association between iron deficiency and ECC. Multivariable regression identified FTT as a significant predictor of ECC, whereas iron deficiency was not.



Conclusions: Failure to thrive was independently associated with an increased risk of ECC, while iron deficiency was not. These findings suggest that broader nutritional factors may play a more significant role in ECC risk rather than isolated micronutrient deficiencies, warranting further investigation.

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