Is there a dependence between children's body weight and the concentration of metals in deciduous teeth?

Association of exposures to environmental chemicals estimated through primary teeth biomatrix and health outcomes in children and adolescents - A systematic review

Children's heightened susceptibility to environmental exposure arises from their underdeveloped detoxification mechanisms and augmented per-unit body-weight absorption capacity for chemical compounds. Primary teeth are an emerging biomatrix, which aid in storing crucial data on early exposure to harmful substances and developmental illnesses. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between environmental chemical exposure and health outcomes in children and adolescents using primary teeth as a matrix. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023428013). The review spanned studies published between 1974 and 2023, identified through an extensive literature search on databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, the Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialized Register, Scopus, and Web of Science. Distiller SR software was used to assess study quality and extract the outcome data. The NTP-OHAT scale assessed evidence quality, and case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies in English were included. Comprehensively reviewing 5287 articles resulted in 29 studies being included in the final analysis, comprising 15 cross-sectional, seven case-control, and seven cohort studies. All 29 studies qualified for qualitative analysis. Eleven studies analyzed lead (Pb) effects on health outcomes, four analyzed manganese (Mn), and 14 investigated other element groups. Primary teeth biomatrix assessed various health outcomes: neurobehavior, childhood behaviour, ADHD, birth outcomes, fetal alcohol syndrome disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and dental caries. This study contributes to existing evidence, reinforcing a link between environmental metal exposure and health consequences. The evidence extends to prenatal and postnatal periods, substantiated by primary teeth biomatrix analysis. Lead level fluctuations can influence neuropsychological functioning, potentially causing cognitive impairments. Altered manganese levels correlate with behavioral issues, adverse effects on visuospatial development, and birth weight changes. Primary teeth biomatrices aid fetal alcohol spectrum disorders diagnosis, and correlations between organo-chemical exposure and autism were observed.

A possible etiological factor in obesity: element status in blood and tooth of overweight versus normal-weight children

We aimed to assess element status in whole blood and tooth dentin and identify their correlations in overweight or obese children without additional metabolic risk factors. In a case-control study, 40 overweight and 80 normal weight children aged 6-10 years were enrolled. Samples of blood and tooth were collected. While all studied elements were similar in groups in univariate analysis, after adjustment for confounding factors, tooth Mn levels were lower and blood Zn levels were higher in the overweight/obese group (p = 0.049 and p = 0.032, respectively). A significant correlation in blood and tooth dentin levels of Sr and Zn was detected in both groups. In both biological substances, the concentrations of elements did not differ significantly in overweight children without metabolic comorbidities compared to healthy children of normal weight. Presence of low Mn levels in tooth dentin and high Zn levels in blood samples should be explored in further studies.