Childhood Diabetes and Infant Formula: Is There a Connection?

Infant formula may be connected to childhood diabetes according to some. Research to show the connection between giving infant formula to children and childhood diabetes is now available.

While the current research seems to link child childhood diabetes and infant formula, some may be skeptical. Childhood diabetes is type 1 diabetes. In this type of diabetes, also referred to as juvenile diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.

No doubt more research will be done in an attempt to show childhood diabetes and infant formula is, or is not, the key to why there is an increase in childhood diabetes. Other factors have also been studied over time to determine the cause of childhood diabetes.

According to a report on Fox News, a study done in Helsinki and reported in The American Journal of Nutrition, the link to childhood diabetes and infant formula was studied for a period of 10 years. Children having infant formula were tested at the age of 10 to determine if they had diabetes. The result suggests there may be a connection. Research showed it may be the type of infant formula used that links childhood diabetes to diet. As milk from cows is not easy for humans to digest before one year of age, some infant formulas may be less of a threat than others. Parents concerned about protecting their child from diabetes may decide breast feeding is the best choice, with infant formula supplements being limited.

Parents should also be aware the study that suggests childhood diabetes may be connected to certain infant formulas included other important details. Early feeding of certain foods that the digestive tract is not able to handle could also be responsible for childhood diabetes. The research states, in part:

-- as cow milk proteins and cereals, or to fruit, berries, and roots have been implicated...autoimmunity, clinical type 1 diabetes , or both. The Trial...extensively hydrolyzed formula in infancy will decrease...1 diabetes later in childhood . In our pilot study...a highly hydrolyzed formula decreased by 50% the...incidence of one or more diabetes -associated autoantibodies...by type 1 diabetes and enrolled 2159 eligible...

The more parents learn about childhood diabetes and infant formula and feeding, the better they may be able to protect their children.

Sources:

American Journal of Nutrition