The Association between Nutrition Style through the First ۲ Years of Life, Maternal and Childhood Indicators with Type ۱ Diabetes Mellitus in Children: A Case-Control Study

Background: Nutrition and dietary habits is one of the determinant factor on glycemic control of diabetes mellitus. This study aims to investigate the association between type ۱ diabetes mellitus (T۱DM) and diet in the first two years of life as well as a select group of demographic variables. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on ۷۶ children with T۱DM and ۲۰۹ non-diabetic children selected through convenience sampling from the population of people visiting the community health centers of the city of Jahrom, Iran. The required data were collected by a questionnaire of diet and demographic information completed by the mothers of the children. The data were analyzed using logistic regression and adjusted odds ratio. Results: Finally, the results of multiple backward logistic regression showed that the studied factors had a significant association with T۱DM (P < ۰.۰۵), including body mass index (BMI) less than ۱۸ kg/m۲ for mothers before pregnancy (OR: ۴.۴, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۶۱ to ۱۱.۹۷), mothers without a history of diabetes (OR: ۰.۰۲, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۰۰۱ to ۰.۶۰), mother’s weight before pregnancy (OR: ۰.۸۸, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۸۴ to ۰.۹۱), mother’s excess weight during pregnancy (OR: ۰.۸۳, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۷۵ to ۰.۹۳), exclusive breastfeeding for more than six months (OR: ۰.۱۹, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۰۳ to ۰.۹۶), low weight gain in the first two years of life (OR: ۶.۹۸, ۹۵% CI: ۲.۱۶ to ۲۲.۵), and the breastfeeding less than ۱۲ months  (OR: ۱۰.۵۲, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۶۲ to ۶۶.۶۴). Conclusion: BMI less than ۱۸ kg/m۲ for mothers before pregnancy, low weight gain in the first two years of life, and breastfeeding less than ۱۲ months increased the risk of developing T۱DM in children.

Keywords:

Type ۱ diabetes mellitus , Breast milk , Breastfeeding , Diet , Children