Vitamin D supplementation in children and youth with epilepsy – the effect on oral health condition

Introduction
A balanced diet and supply of vitamins and minerals are important for proper functioning of each organism. Huge impact of adequate vitamin D supply on health aspects is increasingly emphasized. People with epilepsy are at risk of vitamin D deficiency

Objectives
The objective of the study was to assess a correlation between vitamin D supplementation in children and adolescents with epilepsy and an occurrence of carious disease and periodontal lesions.

Material and methods
Both, a survey and clinical study were conducted on 107 people, aged 6-18 years with epilepsy. The questionnaire contained 15 questions about sex, respondent’s age, place of residence, and vitamin D supplementation. Clinical studies were performed with the aid of headlamp and diagnostic instruments used in dentistry.

Results
Vitamin D was administered during infancy in 100% of respondents. Continuous supplementation at a later age was used in 58.88% of participants. According to questionnaire study, controlled testing of vitamin D blood concentration was carried out by a pediatrician or family doctor only in 24.3% of patients. In the static analysis, in the group of people constantly receiving vitamin D, significantly lower values of indices regarding caries intensity, periodontal diseases, and calculus deposition were found. he sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy generally increased with decreasing voxel size. Positive and negative predictive values increased with decreasing voxel size and increasing defect size.

Conclusions
Confirmed prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children and adolescents require an improvement of principles of prevention or adopting the concept of performing routine diagnostic tests in risk groups. We predict that vitamin D supplementation increases vitamin D concentration in blood and affects the intensity of caries disease in examined group of children and adolescents with epilepsy. There is a correlation between cholecalciferol administration and periodontal treatment needs in examined group of children and adolescents with epilepsy.