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During recent years the increased survival rate of very low birthweight infants has lead to an increased incidence of rickets and/or osteopenia in these infants. The pathogenesis is multifactorial. From several studies performed under different conditions it can be concluded that the vitamin D requirement of these infants is about 3 times higher than the normal prophylactic dose. Breastfed infants should be supplemented with extra phosphorus and possibly also extra calcium. Infant formulas designed for low birthweight infants should have a calcium content compensating for the initially poor calcium absorption of these infants.

Calcium↗

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Colonization of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus genotypes and caries development in children to mothers harboring both species.

The major route of early acquisition of mutans streptococci in humans is a vertical transmission from mother to child. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the acquisition, distribution and persistence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in children whose mothers harbored both species and to study the caries incidence in relation to colonization of these bacteria. Fifteen mother-child pairs were followed during the child's first 7 years. Stimulated salivary samples were taken from the mothers and the children. Plaque samples were also collected from the teeth and the tongue of the children. The samples were analyzed by cultivating techniques together with genomic fingerprinting and hybridizing. The caries experience was evaluated on the sampling occasions and retrospectively using the records of caries registrations from the community clinics. During the 7-year period 10 of the 15 children acquired mutans streptococci. Only 4 of them were colonized by both S. mutans and S. sobrinus despite the fact that their mothers harbored both species. In 2 of the children S. sobrinus was found later than S. mutans. A total of 26 genotypes were found in the children and 9 of them were identical to their mothers. New genotypes and a gain-loss pattern were noted especially in the children but also in their mothers. The groups of teeth first positive for the two species were the deciduous molars. The caries experience was low during the study period with 8 children showing no caries.

Child↗