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Does farm environment protect against type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Sanna M M Heikkinen1, Janne M Pitkäniemi, Maritta L Kilpeläinen
1Department of Public Health, Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. sanna.mm.heikkinen@helsinki.fi
Aims/Hypothesis:
Hygiene hypothesis has been shown valid in respect of allergies and asthma but has not been, however, sufficiently studied in relation to type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study investigates the effect of childhood farm environment on the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Finnish children and young adults.
Methods:
Data come from a questionnaire study carried out in 2007 (N = 5805). Prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus was analysed according to the type of the rural exposure below the age of 18 years. Associations were estimated and tested using Bayesian methods.
Results:
Consistent suggestive evidence of the inverse association of childhood's farm environment with the occurrence of type 1 diabetes mellitus was shown, even though conclusive results were not reached.
Conclusion/Interpretation:
Exposure to a broad variety of non-pathogenic environmental microorganisms during childhood might have a protective effect on type 1 diabetes mellitus. Results clearly suggest that further research is well grounded with larger samples.
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