Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
Drash et al note that the interest in a possible link between infant feeding and development of IDDM began in 1984 when a Scandinavian study looked at the possible association between these two factors. The study found lower levels of IDDM in children born during the years when breast feeding was common compared with those born in the years when breast feeding was less common. The study suggested that children who were not breast fed or were given cow's milk formula at an early age were more susceptible to the development of IDDM. Since then other studies have followed, some agreeing and others disagreeing.
A review of many studies dealing with IDDM and cow's milk found there does seem to be a statistically significant link between the introduction of cow's milk at an early age and the development of IDDM. (2)
It would seem that the culprits are intact proteins in the cow's milk. (4) and Vandenplas (5) notes that the use of hypoallergenic formulas is often met with little success. It is interesting that Kitts et al (3) found links between various wheat and soy protein sources, including the soy protein isolates used to make infant formulas, related to juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It could be that special formulas that are made up of proteins that have been broken down are the answer.
Finnish researchers tracked new-borns who had a close relative with type I diabetes. In addition to their mother's milk, half of the babies received a milk based formula; half received a formula in which the cows' milk proteins had been broken into fragments called peptides. It would appear that babies' immune systems largely ignore cows' milk proteins that have been broken down but contact with one intact protein in cows' milk, bovine insulin, may set off a destructive process that leads to diabetes developing. At 2 years of age, 10 of 89 children getting cows' milk formula had formed antibodies associated with type I diabetes but only 3 of 84 babies receiving the treated milk showed these antibodies. (1)
It appears that one of the factors in the development of IDDM, for some children, is early exposure to cow's milk protein but it is not the only triggering factor, others such as viruses have also been implicated. It has been suggested that the role of milk proteins could simply stem from the basic fact that the human body was never intended to be exposed to these type of proteins. However, as other proteins also seem to cause problems the problem seems to be more to do with complete proteins than with those specific solely to cows' milk. It seems like that breast milk offers some protective effects but further research is still needed to help those babies unable, for whatever reason, to consume breast milk.
For information on elimination diets and testing of foods please read the Food Intolerance articles and/or the Food Intolerance Handbook. If diabetes has been diagnosed consult with your doctor before attempting changes to your diet.
1. Akerblom HK, et al. 1999. Emergence of diabetes associated autoantibodies in the nutritional prevention of IDDM (TRIGR) project. 59th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. June. San Diego.
2. Drash AL, et al. Infant Feeding Practices and their Possible Relationship to the Etiology of Diabetes Mellitus. Pediatrics (ISSN 0031 4005) 1994 American Academy of Pediatrics.
3. Kitts D, Yuan Y, Joneja J, Scott F, Szilagyi A, Amiot J, Zarkadas M. Adverse reactions to food constituents: allergy, intolerance, and autoimmunity. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1997;75(4):241-54
4. Martin JM, Trink B, Daneman D, Dosch HM, Robinson B. Milk proteins in the etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Ann Med 1991;23(4):447-52.
5. Vandenplas Y. Pathogenesis of food allergy in infants. Curr Opin Pediatr 1993;5(5):567-72.
2. Drash AL, et al. Infant Feeding Practices and their Possible Relationship to the Etiology of Diabetes Mellitus. Pediatrics (ISSN 0031 4005) 1994 American Academy of Pediatrics.
3. Kitts D, Yuan Y, Joneja J, Scott F, Szilagyi A, Amiot J, Zarkadas M. Adverse reactions to food constituents: allergy, intolerance, and autoimmunity. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1997;75(4):241-54
4. Martin JM, Trink B, Daneman D, Dosch HM, Robinson B. Milk proteins in the etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Ann Med 1991;23(4):447-52.
5. Vandenplas Y. Pathogenesis of food allergy in infants. Curr Opin Pediatr 1993;5(5):567-72.