Is there a link between iron in infant formula and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s? Biomarkers in teeth provide clues.

A new study reports on dental biomarkers that differ between breast-fed and formula-fed babies. The biomarkers suggest a possible link between early iron exposure and late-life neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Both diseases are linked with abnormal processing of iron.

The combination of increased iron intake during infancy with a potential genetic predisposition could explain how iron-fortified formulas could cause damage for some babies as they age into adulthood. And it’s teeth that are telling the story!

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