In view of the fact that the absence of breast milk is a major risk factor for NEC35–38, these findings suggest the possibility that the development of NEC may reflect impaired AHR signaling in the neonatal intestine, and also show that strategies to enhance the delivery of AHR ligands either directly to the neonate, or secondarily through the mother, may offer new strategies for the prevention or treatment of NEC. Here, AHR is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.