Childhood diet and diabetes

A study conducted at the University of Helsinki, Finland, aims to determine how important childhood nutrition modification is in preventing the onset of type 1 diabetes as the child grows up.
The media, because of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its steady increases throughout the world, often overlooks type 1 diabetes. However, type 1 is an emerging problem amongst children in Europe.
The Helsinki study will involve experts throughout 15 countries, and unbelievably it is the first to deal with the primary prevention of type 1 diabetes. The study aims to establish whether cow’s milk protein in juvenile diets has an influence on the development of type 1 diabetes.
The participants will be followed from infancy for a ten-year period during which time their diet will be modified. Researchers will examine the effects of breast-feeding, dairy milk and food supplementation.