The relation of early nutrition, infections and socio-economic factors to the development of childhood diabetes
Telahun, M.; Abdulkadir, J.; Kebede, E.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 32(4): 239-244
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 7835352 Document Number: 211
The development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is thought to be related to environmental trigger factors acting upon a background of genetic predisposition to the disease. Viral infections, toxins, and dietary factors are being considered as trigger factors. The authors studied the relationship of the development of diabetes from birth up to 15 years of age to the type of feeding in infancy, childhood infections, and vaccination among 55 patients attending Endocrinology Clinics of the Ethio-Swedish Children's and Tikur Anbessa Hospitals over the period January 1990 to December 1991. 74 unaffected siblings and 107 unrelated individuals were included as controls. No significant difference was found in relation to type of feeding up to the ages of three, six, and twelve months or older between patients and unaffected siblings. Histories of measles, chicken pox, and whooping cough were equally distributed between the two groups. The introduction of bottle-feeding, however, was significantly more frequent among unrelated controls at three months and six months of age. The use of cow's milk and other formulas in bottle-feeding showed a significant negative association with the development of diabetes. An history of vaccination against tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio was significantly more common among unrelated controls than diabetics. There was no significant difference in family history of diabetes in first degree relatives, parental education, and level of income between diabetics and unrelated controls. The authors suggest that more extensive studies are warranted.
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