INTRODUCTION OF PASTEURIZED/RAW COW'S MILK DURING THE SECOND SEMESTER OF LIFE AS A RISK FACTOR OF TYPE 1 DIABETES...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a significant autoimmune disease affecting children and adolescents.
• Dietary factors in early life are increasingly investigated for their role in T1DM pathogenesis.
• Cow's milk introduction timing is a debated factor in infant nutrition and potential disease development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between early consumption of pasteurized/raw cow's milk (P/RCM) and the incidence of T1DM in school-aged children and adolescents.
• To determine if the timing of P/RCM introduction in the second semester of life impacts T1DM risk.
• To quantify the risk associated with P/RCM consumption compared to other infant feeding practices.

Main Methods:

• A non-probabilistic study involving 150 participants (75 T1DM patients, 75 controls), aged 6-16 years.
• T1DM served as the dependent variable, with P/RCM consumption as the independent variable.
• Statistical analysis included chi-squared tests, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• Among the 150 subjects, 51% were male, with an average age of 11 ± 3.2 years.
• Children consuming P/RCM showed a significantly higher risk of T1DM (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.2-12.8).
• The odds of T1DM were threefold higher in children consuming P/RCM compared to those receiving follow-up formula (RM, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.03-10.07).

Conclusions:

• Introducing pasteurized/raw cow's milk during the second half of an infant's first year increases the likelihood of developing T1DM.
• The study suggests a fourfold increased risk of T1DM associated with early P/RCM introduction.
• These findings highlight potential dietary triggers for T1DM in pediatric populations.