IVF and risk of Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population-based nested case-control study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Children born via In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) may have an increased risk of impaired metabolic function.
• Previous research suggests potential metabolic differences in IVF-conceived children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the mode of conception (natural, subfertility without IVF, or IVF) influences the risk of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in offspring.

Main Methods:

• A population-based, nested case-control study utilized Taiwanese registry data from 2,228,073 parent-child triads (2004-2017).
• Conception modes were categorized as natural, subfertility/non-IVF, and IVF.
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnoses were identified using ICD codes, with cases matched to four controls.

Main Results:

• Over 14.3 million person-years of follow-up, incidence rates of Type 1 diabetes were similar across natural (5.33), subfertility/non-IVF (5.61), and IVF (4.74) conception groups.
• No significant differences in Type 1 diabetes risk were found for subfertility/non-IVF (aOR 1.04) or IVF (aOR 1.00) compared to natural conception.
• Infertility source and embryo type did not significantly alter Type 1 diabetes risk.

Conclusions:

• The mode of conception, including IVF, is not associated with an increased risk of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in offspring.
• While metabolic profiles may differ, this does not appear to translate to a higher risk of childhood Type 1 diabetes.
• Further research is needed due to limitations such as a small number of exposed cases in stratified analyses.