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7257988 
Journal Article 
Editorial 
Association between early-life exposures and inflammatory bowel diseases, based on analyses of deciduous teeth 
Nair, N; Austin, C; Curtin, P; Gouveia, C; Arora, M; Torres, J 
2020 
Yes 
Gastroenterology
ISSN: 0016-5085
EISSN: 1528-0012 
159 
1 
383-385 
English 
32224130 
WOS:000553064500009 
The increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) supports the role of environment in modulating disease risk. Exposures during neonatal life can modulate immune system development, conferring long-lasting health consequences. However, studying early-life events is challenging and very little has been elucidated about environmental exposures preceding disease onset. Teeth develop in an incremental manner, storing exposure information on organic and inorganic compounds such as metals and organics as we age. Baby (deciduous) teeth start to form during the 14th to 19th week of intrauterine development. Enamel and dentine deposition occur in an incremental manner. At birth, the neonatal line is formed allowing a clear histological landmark demarcating pre- and postnatally formed parts of teeth. Advances in the study of deciduous teeth-matrix biomarkers allows retrospective temporal evaluation of cumulative exposures, from prenatal life into early childhood until teeth shedding. Herein, by studying deciduous teeth of patients who eventually developed IBD, we aimed to identify whether metal exposures during early development may be associated with an IBD diagnosis later in life.