Timing and Patterning of Primary Teeth Eruption as a Biomarker for Early Rapid Weight Gain (P11-080-19)

Prospective and retrospective studies suggest that the timing and patterning of tooth eruption in infancy is a biomarker for later obesity. We recently discovered that although within the range of normal growth, healthy infants randomized to be fed cow milk formula (CMF) for the first year of life experienced greater gains in weight, but not length, during the first 4.5 months, when compared to those fed an extensive protein hydrolysate formula (EHF). In the present study, we conducted secondary analysis to determine whether the type of infant formula interacted with weight gain velocity on the timing and patterning of developmental milestones including tooth eruption. At each monthly visit from 0.5 until 12.5 mos, infants (N = 113) were weight, measured and the number and location of each tooth, if any, erupted during the prior month was recorded as was the age at which they began crawling, sitting independently, standing and walking without assistance. Generalized estimating equations were conducted to determine whether infant formula had a direct impact on teething via effect on weight gain velocity independent of treatment group. We found a significant time × treatment group effect and a significant treatment group effect on the number of teeth erupted such that CMF erupted more teeth than EHF infants by one year of age. The rate of tooth eruption was significantly greater during the first year among the CMF when compared to the EHF group (P < 0.05). Regardless of group, the greater the velocities in weight gain during the first 4 months (but not later), the earlier infants erupted their first tooth (P < 0.05).The formula-induced changes in weight gain velocity did not generalize to the other milestones measures. The patterning of primary teeth eruption paralleled the formula-induced differences in early rapid weight gain, a risk factor for later obesity. Early and rapid eruption of primary teeth may be a biomarker for obesity as well as detrimental for dental health since caries lesions progress faster and are cavitated more quickly during childhood. NIH Grants HD072307 and R03HD09408.