Micro-computed tomography of teeth as an alternative way to detect and analyse vitamin D deficiency

Abstract

This contribution presents the first application of micro-computed tomography (µCT) to study pathological mineral defects associated with the vitamin D deficiency, namely interglobular dentine (IGD), within the mineral matrix of archaeological teeth from three French medieval cases. To date, such an approach has only been used once in a clinical setting. Through this work, we evaluate potential benefits of this alternative approach and the contribution such work could make to anthropological debates, through analysis of rare teeth of human or non-human fossils or teeth of individuals where more destructive techniques cannot be applied.

Micro‐CT assessment of dental mineralization defects indicative of vitamin D deficiency in two 17th–19th century Dutch communities

“…Most individuals without IGD on micro‐CT and the individuals that displayed additional bands of IGD on thin section, presented with IGD grade 1 and a lower grade 2 on histological examination. Thus, our results seem to support the limitation of IGD observation on micro‐CT scan to grade 2 (possibly excluding the lower end of the range) and 3 as found by Colombo et al (). It should be considered that the grading of IGD severity is subjective and provides an approximate level rather than an absolute measure.…”

“…It was reported by Colombo et al () that grade 1 IGD was not detected using micro‐CT assessment, but the current study analyzed a much larger number of individuals and results from this investigation demonstrate that depending on the micro‐CT set‐up, some individuals at the lower end of grade 2 IGD may also be missed. Most individuals without IGD on micro‐CT and the individuals that displayed additional bands of IGD on thin section, presented with IGD grade 1 and a lower grade 2 on histological examination.…”

“…Based on histological data, D'Ortenzio et al () divide IGD into three grades of severity from 1 to 3. However, grading of IGD severity based on micro‐CT images was not undertaken in this study because recent research has suggested features of IGD are less clear on micro‐CT (Colombo et al, ). Micro‐CT detects differences in mineralization density and since the bubble‐like spaces in grade 1 are relatively small, is it suggested that grade 1 is not visible on micro‐CT scan (Colombo et al, ).…”

“…However, grading of IGD severity based on micro‐CT images was not undertaken in this study because recent research has suggested features of IGD are less clear on micro‐CT (Colombo et al, ). Micro‐CT detects differences in mineralization density and since the bubble‐like spaces in grade 1 are relatively small, is it suggested that grade 1 is not visible on micro‐CT scan (Colombo et al, ). Instead, in this study, IGD on micro‐CT is scored as “present”, “absent”, or “unobservable”.…”

“…A recently developed method by D'Ortenzio et al () demonstrated the use of histological examination of dental mineralization defects called interglobular dentine (IGD) as a marker of vitamin D deficiency. A recent clinical investigation has shown that IGD is visible on microscopic computed tomography (micro‐CT) scans (Ribeiro, Costa, Soares, Williams, & Fonteles, ) and Colombo et al () have shown IGD can also be observed in archeological teeth. IGD analysis via non‐destructive micro‐CT can enable the determination of the age of vitamin D deficiency onset and the frequency of vitamin D deficient periods within an individual (Colombo et al, ).…”