Daily vegetable intake during pregnancy negatively associated to islet autoimmunity in the offspring--the ABIS study

To investigate if maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with occurrence of islet autoimmunity (IA) in the offspring.

Of 21 700 infants invited to the All Babies in South-east Sweden (ABIS) study, 16 004 screening questionnaires, including a 22-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) regarding the mothers' diet during pregnancy, were completed after delivery. Follow-up of the children (questionnaires and blood sampling) was performed at 1, 2.5 and 5 yr of age. IA was defined as being positive (above the 95th percentile for healthy children) in two or more measurements of autoantibodies [glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA); tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2A), insulin autoantibodies (IAA)] analysed at the three time points or being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the 5-yr follow-up period. The 5 724 children in whom we carried out two to three possible blood samplings were included in the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables predicting IA.

Of 5 724 children,191 (3.3%) were considered positive for IA. In a univariate analysis, less than daily consumption of vegetables (3-5 times/week) in the mothers' diet was associated with increased risk of IA (OR 1.71, 95% CI:1.24-2.35, p = 0.001) compared to daily consumption (p for trend = 0.004). The association was strengthened when adjusting for known IA-risk factors (p for trend <0.001).

Daily consumption of vegetables in the mothers' diet during pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of IA in the offspring.