Type 1 Diabetes: Breastfeeding Helps Prevent It Thanks to the Protective Action of Omega-3

Breastfeeding: Omega-3 rich breast milk helps prevent Type 1 Diabetes

High levels of omega-3 in the blood can reduce the risk of Type 1 diabetes in children. The same protective effect occurs with breastfeeding, which transfers EPA and DHA from the mother’s milk to the newborn. The action of omega-3, due to their ability to prevent the autoimmune response associated with Type 1 diabetes, shows that nutritional intervention can help prevent a disease affecting millions of children and adolescents worldwide.

These are the main findings of a new study published in the journal Diabetologia, conducted by scientists at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki (Finland).

Type 1 Diabetes mostly affects younger people

Type 1 diabetes mellitus, or insulin-dependent diabetes, affects over 20 million people worldwide, more frequently men; in Italy about 300,000 people are affected. Type 1 diabetes is often called “juvenile” as it tends to be diagnosed mainly in childhood or adolescence, especially between ages 5 and 7 and during puberty. It is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the Beta cells of the pancreas. As a result, insulin production is reduced or completely stopped. Insulin is the hormone necessary to lower blood sugar levels by regulating glucose entry and use by the body’s cells.

The lack of insulin production forces patients to take it artificially to survive. Currently, there is no cure for Type 1 diabetes, but following insulin therapy, a healthy diet, and moderate physical activity allows blood sugar control without sacrificing lifestyle and maintaining good quality of life. The diet for insulin-dependent diabetes is crucial for preventing chronic complications caused by hyperglycemia from the disease. Controlled nutrition mainly serves to keep blood sugar levels stable and ensure adequate intake of all nutrients, carefully evaluating simple sugar consumption and preferring complex carbohydrates.

Recent research has shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids may also play a role in the development of autoimmunity associated with Type 1 diabetes by modulating the immune system and inflammatory responses.

Omega-3 reduce the risk of diabetes-related autoimmunity

The new study, led by researcher Sari Niinistö, investigated the association between blood omega-3 levels and the risk of autoimmune response linked to Type 1 diabetes, and the role of maternal consumption of EPA and DHA in the onset of the disease in newborns. In particular, the researchers examined whether high omega-3 levels can reduce the probability of pancreatic autoimmune response in children genetically predisposed to the disease.

Results showed that omega-3s may play a role in Type 1 diabetes development and can counteract disease onset especially during childhood; higher blood levels of EPA and DHA were linked to a lower risk of early autoimmunity, while a high ratio between alpha-linolenic acid and DHA, and between omega-6 and omega-3, was associated with a higher risk of autoimmune reactions against the pancreas. Furthermore, researchers found a correlation between fatty acids and infants’ type of feeding; breastfed infants showed higher blood levels of EPA, DHA, and pentadecanoic and palmitic acids, and a lower risk of autoimmunity compared to formula-fed infants.

As Sari Niinistö noted, the findings confirm that breastfeeding and some nutritional components of breast milk, such as omega-3s, are protective against diabetes and that the EPA and DHA status of newborns is essential for proper maturation of the immune system occurring in the first months of life.

Research details

Researchers examined 7,782 children recruited between 1997 and 2004, aged between 3 months and 2 years, who were genetically at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. They monitored the possible presence of autoantibodies against pancreatic cells by regularly collecting blood samples up to age 15. Mothers were also provided with questionnaires and food diaries to record breast milk and formula use. At the end of the study, analyses showed that fatty acid composition in the blood differed between breastfed and formula-fed infants, reflecting the lipid composition differences in the milk. Of nearly 8,000 infants, 240 developed autoimmunity, and analysis of serum fatty acid levels collected in the first months of life revealed a link between Type 1 diabetes onset and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. Additionally, the daily amount of breast milk consumed was inversely associated with diabetes development.

Further studies will confirm the role of omega-3 in preventing Type 1 diabetes

According to the researchers, the study confirms how fatty acid status in children can influence the risk of Type 1 diabetes onset and how breast milk can play a protective role against the disease. The results shed new light on the role of omega-3 and nutrition in the development of insulin-dependent diabetes. However, these results must be confirmed by further prospective studies and subsequently by clinical trials before drawing final conclusions. Once the role of omega-3 is established, early nutritional interventions could help prevent the disease. To stay updated on the latest scientific news about Omega-3, subscribe to our newsletter.

Sari Niinistö et al.; Fatty acid status in infancy is associated with the risk of type 1 diabetes-associated autoimmunity; Diabetologia, July 2017, Volume 60, pp 1223–1233.