ROOTS - 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Deciduous Teeth: The Archives of Pre- and Postnatal Exposures
IRAS ID
355127
Contact name
Gunter G Kuhnle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Reading
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Deciduous (baby) teeth begin forming in the womb and develop according to distinct timelines, making them valuable biological archives of early-life exposures. Unlike blood, urine, or hair, which only reflect recent exposures, deciduous teeth can preserve biomarkers of prenatal and early childhood experiences, offering a unique window into maternal and environmental influences. This aligns with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, which posits that early-life exposures can have long-term health implications.
The study aims to identify maternal dietary biomarkers stored in naturally shed baby teeth. Researchers hypothesise that maternal nutritional imbalances—deficiencies or toxicities—may leave chemical imprints in developing teeth, potentially revealing harmful dietary patterns or environmental exposures. Teeth must be intact and free of decay to ensure accurate chemical analysis. Parents or guardians of participating children will complete comprehensive questionnaires about diet, supplements, physical activity, and health during pregnancy to provide contextual information.
Advanced analytical techniques will be employed to identify and quantify nutritional markers in the teeth and assess their alignment with reported maternal behaviours. However, a major limitation is that most current preparation methods—such as demineralisation or embedding in resin—can damage or destroy chemical components not targeted by a given analysis. This makes it difficult to apply multiple analytical techniques to a single tooth and risks losing valuable data.
The study seeks to overcome these challenges by developing an optimised sequence of laboratory procedures that preserve as much chemical integrity as possible. The goal is to extract a broader range of biomarkers from a single sample, enhancing the ability to reconstruct maternal and early-childhood exposures. Although few studies have examined maternal dietary markers in teeth, this research aims to advance the field significantly by refining methods and identifying key nutritional biomarkers preserved in deciduous teeth.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0424
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion