Type 1 diabetes: breastfeeding helps prevent it through the protective action of omega-3s
Breastfeeding: breast milk, rich in Omega 3, helps prevent Type 1 Diabetes
The high amount of omega 3 in the blood can reduce the risk of being affected by type 1 diabetes in children. The same protective effect occurs with breastfeeding, which allows the passage of EPA and DHA from breast milk to the infant. The action of omega-3s due to their ability to prevent the autoimmune response associated with type 1 diabetes shows that nutritional intervention can help prevent a disease that affects millions of children and adolescents worldwide.
These are the main findings of a new study published in the journal Diabetologia and conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland.
Type 1 diabetes mostly affects younger people
Type 1 diabetes mellitus, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, affects more than 20 million people worldwide, most frequently men; in Italy, about 300,000 people are affected. Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as "juvenile," as the disease tends to be diagnosed predominantly in childhood or adolescence, particularly between the ages of 5 and 7 years and around the time of puberty. Insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, in which antibodies attack the beta cells of the pancreas. As a result, the production of insulin, the hormone needed to reduce blood sugar levels by regulating the entry and utilization of glucose by the body's cells, is reduced to zero.
Failure to produce insulin forces patients to take it artificially in order to survive. Currently, there is no cure for type 1 diabetes mellitus, but adherence to insulin therapy, a healthy diet and moderate physical activity allow patients to maintain blood glucose control without giving up their habits and maintaining a high quality of life. Diet for insulin-dependent diabetes is therefore a very important aspect of preventing chronic complications due to hyperglycemia caused by the disease. Following a controlled diet serves above all to keep blood sugar levels under control and the proper intake of all nutrients, carefully evaluating the consumption of simple sugars and giving preference to complex sugars.
Recent research has shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids may also play a role in the development of autoimmunity associated with type 1 diabetes, as they are able to modulate the immune system and inflammatory reactions.
Omega-3s reduce the risk of autommunity related to diabetes
The new study, led by researcher Sari Niinistö, investigated the existence of an association between the amount of omega-3 in the blood and the risk of autoimmune response associated with type 1 diabetes, and the role of maternal consumption of EPA and DHA in the onset of the disease in infants. Specifically, the researchers examined whether high levels of omega-3 are able to reduce the likelihood of the pancreatic autoimmune response in children genetically predisposed to the disease.
The results found that omega-3s may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes and may counteract, especially in infancy, the onset of the disease; the data confirmed that higher levels of EPA and DHA in the blood were linked to a lower risk of early autoimmunity, while a high ratio of alpha-linolenic acid to DHA, and of omega-6 to omega-3 was found to be associated with a higher risk of autoimmune reactions to the pancreas. In addition, the researchers found a correlation between fatty acids and the type of infant feeding; infants who had been breastfed in fact showed elevated levels of EPA and DHA but also pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, in the blood and a lower risk of autoimmunity than nonbreastfed infants.
As Sari Niinistö noted, the findings confirm that breastfeeding and certain nutritional components of breast milk, such as omega-3s, are protective against diabetic disease and that the EPA and DHA status of infants is critical for the proper maturation of the immune system that occurs in the first few months of life.
Research details
The researchers examined 7782 children, recruited between 1997 and 2004, aged 3 months to 2 years, who were at genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes. They then monitored for the possible presence of autoantibodies to pancreatic cells by taking regular blood samples until they were 15 years old. The researchers also provided the mothers with questionnaires and food diaries to learn details about breast milk and formula use. At the end of the study, analysis results showed that the fatty acid composition in blood differed between breastfed and formula-fed infants, reflecting differences in the lipid composition of milk. Of the nearly 8,000 infants, 240 had developed autoimmunity, and by analyzing serum fatty acid levels that had been collected the first few months of life, they discovered the existence of a link between the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. In addition, the amount of breast milk consumed daily was found to be inversely associated with the development of diabetes.
Further studies will confirm the role of omega-3s in preventing type 1 diabetes
According to the researchers, the study confirms how the status of fatty acids in children may influence the risk of developing type 1 diabetes and how breast milk may play a protective role against the disease. The findings shed new light on the role of omega-3s and diet in the development of insulin-dependent diabetes. However, these results need to be confirmed by other prospective studies and subsequently by clinical trials before final conclusions can be drawn. Once the role of omega-3s is established, the onset of the disease can also be prevented by early nutrition interventions. To stay up to date with the latest news from scientific research on omega-3s, write to our newsletter.
Sari Niinistö et al; Fatty acid status in infancy is associated with the risk of type 1 diabetes-associated autoimmunity; Diabetologia, July 2017, Volume 60, pp 1223-1233.
