Background High gluten intake is associated with increased risk of celiac disease (CD) in children at genetic risk. Objectives To investigate if different dietary gluten sources up to age two years confer different risks of celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA) and CD in children at genetic risk. Design Three-day food records were collected at age six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months from 2088 Swedish genetically at-risk children participating in a 15-year follow-up cohort study on type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Screening for celiac disease was performed with tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (tTGA). The primary outcome was CDA, defined as persistent tTGA positivity. The secondary outcome was CD, defined as having a biopsy showing Marsh score ≥ 2 or an averaged tTGA level ≥ 100 Units. Cox regression adjusted for total gluten intake estimated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for daily intake of gluten sources. Results During follow-up, 487 (23.3%) children developed CDA, and 242 (11.6%) developed CD. Daily intake of ≤158 g porridge at age nine months was associated with increased risk of CDA (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.05, 2.23, P = 0.026). A high daily bread intake (>18.3 g) at age 12 months was associated with increased risk of both CDA (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.05, 2.05, P = 0.023) and CD (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.10, 2.91, P = 0.019). At age 18 months, milk cereal drink was associated with an increased risk of CD (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.00, 1.33, P = 0.047) per 200 g/day increased intake. No association was found for other gluten sources up to age 24 months and risk of CDA or CD. Conclusions A high daily intake of bread at age 12 months and milk cereal drink during the second year in life is associated with increased risk of both celiac disease autoimmunity and celiac disease in genetically at-risk children.

OBJECTIVE To distinguish among predictors of seroconversion, progression to multiple autoantibodies and from multiple autoantibodies to type 1 diabetes in young children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Genetically high-risk newborns (n = 8,502) were followed for a median of 11.2 years (interquartile range 9.3–12.6); 835 (9.8%) developed islet autoantibodies and 283 (3.3%) were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Predictors were examined using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Predictors of seroconversion and progression differed, depending on the type of first appearing autoantibody. Male sex, Finnish residence, having a sibling with type 1 diabetes, the HLA DR4 allele, probiotic use before age 28 days, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs689_A (INS) predicted seroconversion to IAA-first (having islet autoantibody to insulin as the first appearing autoantibody). Increased weight at 12 months and SNPs rs12708716_G (CLEC16A) and rs2292239_T (ERBB3) predicted GADA-first (autoantibody to GAD as the first appearing). For those having a father with type 1 diabetes, the SNPs rs2476601_A (PTPN22) and rs3184504_T (SH2B3) predicted both. Younger age at seroconversion predicted progression from single to multiple autoantibodies as well as progression to diabetes, except for those presenting with GADA-first. Family history of type 1 diabetes and the HLA DR4 allele predicted progression to multiple autoantibodies but not diabetes. Sex did not predict progression to multiple autoantibodies, but males progressed more slowly than females from multiple autoantibodies to diabetes. SKAP2 and MIR3681HG SNPs are newly reported to be significantly associated with progression from multiple autoantibodies to type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Predictors of IAA-first versus GADA-first autoimmunity differ from each other and from the predictors of progression to diabetes.

Background The Trial to Reduce Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) is the first multicenter international type 1 diabetes (T1D) prevention trial to be undertaken. A unique feature of TRIGR has been recruitment of eligible pregnant women and enrollment of newborns for long-term follow-up assessments. Purpose Our purpose is to summarize the recruitment and retention strategies used to conduct TRIGR from the perspective of the study coordinators. Methods TRIGR was designed to test whether weaning to formula containing hydrolyzed vs. intact cow’s milk protein would be efficacious in decreasing risk for development of T1D-associated autoantibodies and T1D among infants identified to be at increased risk for T1D based on their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile and family history. Multiple strategies tailored to local issues were required to enroll and follow the target number of infants. Results The study was conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia and 12 countries in Europe. Of the 5,606 mothers registered world-wide, 5,000 of their infants were randomized. Of these, 2,159 were HLA eligible and enrolled in the 8-month intervention and 10-year follow-up phases of the study. The TRIGR study met the accrual goal after 4.7 years of recruitment, 2.7 years longer than projected initially. Challenges included difficulty in finding fathers with T1D, a higher than expected rate of premature delivery amongst T1D mothers, and implementation of new privacy regulations mid-trial. The majority of participants were recruited from primary care antenatal clinics located near the study centers and from a general hospital or pediatric center that was affiliated with a TRIGR Study center. Internet and magazine advertisements were found to be useful for recruitment of families. Alternative follow-up strategies are offered to families who wish to reduce or discontinue participation. Limitations Our experience is limited to a single international multicenter trial. Conclusions TRIGR coordinators played key roles in the recruitment and intervention periods and continue to be instrumental in retaining families and children during the 10-year follow-up period for each child.

Objective To examine the use of vitamin D supplements during infancy among the participants in an international infant feeding trial. Design Longitudinal study. Setting Information about vitamin D supplementation was collected through a validated FFQ at the age of 2 weeks and monthly between the ages of 1 month and 6 months. Subjects Infants (n 2159) with a biological family member affected by type 1 diabetes and with increased human leucocyte antigen-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes from twelve European countries, the USA, Canada and Australia. Results Daily use of vitamin D supplements was common during the first 6 months of life in Northern and Central Europe (>80% of the infants), with somewhat lower rates observed in Southern Europe (>60 %). In Canada, vitamin D supplementation was more common among exclusively breast-fed than other infants (e.g. 71% v. 44% at 6 months of age). Less than 2% of infants in the USA and Australia received any vitamin D supplementation. Higher gestational age, older maternal age and longer maternal education were study-wide associated with greater use of vitamin D supplements. Conclusions Most of the infants received vitamin D supplements during the first 6 months of life in the European countries, whereas in Canada only half and in the USA and Australia very few were given supplementation.