A recent study of the Quebec population shows that young children's environment influences the development of these diseases over the course of their lives
MONTREAL and LAVAL, QC, Oct. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - A research team led by Professor
This study of 2,728 Quebecers provides new scientific insights into the etiology of Crohn's disease, chronic and incurable disease whose causes are not yet fully known. An
"Inflammatory bowel diseases affect nearly 1 in 100 Canadians and have a major impact on patients' quality of life. With our work, we are providing concrete avenues for prevention, since to our knowledge, all of the factors studied can be modified by changing habits," explains the study's first author Canisius Fantodji, a
This is one of the few studies to look at exposure in early childhood, specifically 0 to 3 years of age. Yet early childhood is a crucial time for the establishment and diversification of the intestinal microbiota, the microbial ecosystem that plays a key role in intestinal health.
Breastfeeding and child nutrition: major factors
The research team observed the effects of breastfeeding and diet in early childhood on the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease later in life. These two factors directly influence the makeup of the microbiota.
In terms of diet, the research team made a novel finding: a slight increase in the risk of Crohn's disease was observed when solid foods were introduced earlier (between 3 and 6 months of age) rather than later (past 6 months of age).
"Our work suggests that early introduction of solid foods in infancy may increase the risk of developing Crohn's disease later in life. This discovery needs to be verified in other populations, but it opens the way for new avenues of research in this field," emphasizes Professor
The research team also stresses the importance of exclusive breastfeeding whenever possible, as it tends to reduce the risk of developing Crohn's disease. This observation aligns with current scientific knowledge and supports infant nutrition recommendations.
Dangers of secondhand smoke
The health risks associated with smoking are widely recognized by scientists and the general public. But for the first time, the research team has demonstrated that children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke during their first three years of life have a 23% higher risk of developing Crohn's disease compared to those who were not exposed. Only a small part of this increased risk can be explained by the subject's own active smoking in adulthood, a previously unexplored aspect.
"Our work has brought to light several unique findings for the advancement of research, particularly concerning the harmful influence of secondhand smoke in early childhood in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases," explains Canisius Fantodji.
"Until now, few studies have examined the links between secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke in early childhood and IBDs, and no study has been able to determine to what extent the effect of secondhand smoke exposure was explained by participants' active smoking later in life," points out Dr. Prévost Jantchou, clinician researcher and gastroenterologist at
About the paper
Canisius Fantodji, Marie-Claude Rousseau, Belinda Nicolau, Sreenath Madathil, Andrea Benedetti, Prévost Jantchou. (2024). "Early life exposures and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A nested case-control study in Quebec, Canada." Digestive and Liver Disease.
The creation of the Quebec Birth Cohort on Immunity and Health (CO-MMUNITY), used to select the participants, received financial support from the
This research was made possible by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and a partnership with the Institut de la statistique du Québec. Dr. Jantchou is a clinical research fellow of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (Santé). Canisius Fantodji is supported by grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec (Santé, Nature-Technologie), the
About INRS
About the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine
The Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine is a flagship facility for mother-child research affiliated with the Université de Montréal. It focuses on discovering innovative means of prevention, less invasive and more effective treatments, and promising avenues of personalized medicine. It boasts 295 researchers, including more than 160 clinical researchers, as well as over 580 graduate and postgraduate students. The centre is an integral part of the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, the largest mother and child centre in Canada.
About the CHU Sainte-Justine
The Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine is the largest mother and child hospital in Canada. It is a member of the Université de Montréal's network of excellence in health (RUIS). It has 7,054 staff members, including 1,846 in nursing and cardiopulmonary care; 526 doctors, dentists, and pharmacists; and 200 volunteers, as well as 4,300 trainees and students from all disciplines. CHU Sainte-Justine has 484 beds, including 67 at the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant (CRME), the only centre in Quebec dedicated exclusively to pediatric rehabilitation. The WHO has recognized the CHU Sainte-Justine as a Health Promoting Hospital.
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