Maybe Cod Liver Oil Is Good for Us After All

Background: Vitamin D for caries prevention has been debated for years. The body of evidence was contradictory, with the American Medical Association and the United States National Research Council supporting vitamin D for managing dental caries and the American Dental Association opposed. Because the vitamin isn't naturally available in foods (except in cod liver oil and swordfish), many foods are fortified with vitamin D --especially milk, cereals, and some orange juices. In addition, if you are out in the sun daily, the ultraviolet rays will produce vitamin D when the sun strikes the skin, triggering vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut to enable normal mineralization. Decreased vitamin D in adults can cause osteomalacia. Therefore, the elderly are encouraged to consider adding a vitamin D supplement daily to their diets. Objective: To complete a systematic review of controlled clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation for dental caries preventi more...