Introduction: There is little information on the association between early infant feeding and type 1 diabetes in children in Arabian countries. This study aimed to investigate the influence of breastfeeding on the onset of diabetes in children.
Methodology: The study included 200 subjects (99 cases and 101 controls). Their age ranged between 1 and 14 years. They attended Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs Hospital, Riyadh, (NGHA) during the study period (September to November 2013). Mothers were interviewed by research coordinator to fill the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of cases and controls were carried out, and Chi-square, Odds-ratios and T-test estimates were utilized for analysis.
Results. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to intake or duration of breastfeeding, the age of initiation of formula's milk and weaning. The study showed that subjects with type 1 diabetes had higher birth weight (p= 0.009). In addition, the study showed that the current daily consumption of cow's milk in subjects with type 1 diabetes were higher significantly in patients group (p= 0.04). Those in the type 1 DM group were more likely to have a sibling with type 1 diabetes (p=0.005).
Conclusions: Patients did not differ significantly from the controls with regard to dietary practices.
Key words: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; case-control study; infant feeding; birth weight; family history of type 1 diabetes
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