Caries Protection Afforded by Milk Intake

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate associations among total beverage intakes, meal/snack distribution of intakes and caries experience among children (n=170) participating in the longitudinal Iowa Fluoride Study. METHODS: Total, meal and snack beverage intakes (i.e., milk, 100% juice, pop, other sugared, water & other diet) were abstracted from 3-day diaries completed by parents, caregivers and/or children at ages 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 years. Caries experience was defined as the presence or absence of a cavitated or filled surface in a primary 2nd molar at approximately age 9. The Wilcoxon test was used to identify differences in beverage intakes between subjects with and without caries. For each year of intake, three (i.e., total, meal or snack) multiple logistic regression models were used to predict caries from beverage categories. RESULTS: Snack milk intakes at age 1 year, meal water & diet beverage intakes at age 1, total and meal pop intakes at age 2, total and meal other sugared beverage intakes at age 7, and total and snack water & diet beverage intakes at age 7 were higher in subjects with caries than those without (p<0.05); while meal milk intakes at age 1, total and meal milk intakes at age 7 and meal 100% juice intakes at age 7 were higher in subjects without caries (p<0.05). In combined beverage models, meal pop intakes at age 2, other sugared beverage intakes at age 4, and total and snack pop intakes at age 6 increased caries risk (p<0.05), while higher meal milk intakes at ages 1 and 8 and higher snack milk intakes at age 4 decreased caries risk (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both early and more recent milk intaks at meals might offer protection against caries, while replacement of milk with either sugared or sugar-free beverages can increase caries risk. Support: NIDCR:RO1-DE09551,RO1-DE12101; GCRCP:M01-RR00059; CDC/ATPM:1329.