Intake of antioxidant vitamins and trace elements during pregnancy and risk of advanced β cell autoimmunity in the child

Abstract

Background: Type 1 diabetes may have its origins in the fetal period of life. Free radicals were implicated in the cause of type 1 diabetes. It was hypothesized that antioxidant nutrients could protect against type 1 diabetes.

Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with antioxidant intake and the consumption of their dietary sources during pregnancy

“…As food groups to be analysed, we selected the main dietary sources of each antioxidant nutrient among the present study population (25) . The major sources of retinol were organ meats, milk products and butter.…”

The Role of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Pediatric Diabetes

“…Among multiple supplements with proposed antioxidant properties used during pregnancy, including vitamin E, selenium, zinc, vitamin C, retinol, b-carotene, and manganese, none was associated with a decreased b-cell autoimmunity in the offspring. 47 In summary, vitamin E supplementation in 2 small studies of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes was shown to decrease HbA 1c . Several small trials assessing oxidative stress and microangiopathy did not find an improvement after vitamin E intake.…”

“…46 The role of vitamin E during pregnancy to decrease the risk of autoimmunity has been studied in Finland, as part of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Project. 47 Using a comprehensive questionnaire, mothers of 4297 children at risk for type 1 diabetes based on major histocompatibility complex HLA-DQB1 were asked to retrospectively recall diet and dietary supplements used during pregnancy. The main sources of vitamin E, in addition to supplements, were vegetable oils and cereal products.…”

“…Increased appetite and weight were side effects reported by participants, and agreed with findings of increased HbA 1c in 7 young adults with type 1 diabetes after a month of zinc supplementation. 69 Uusitalo and colleagues, 47,70 as part of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Project, assessed maternal zinc intake, along with other antioxidants, This large, prospective, population-based, cohort study elicited dietary data of mothers whose children had the major histocompatibility complex HLA-DQB1, signifying advanced risk of b cell autoimmunity. The self-administered food-frequency questionnaire was prone to recall bias.…”

The Role of Nutrition in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

“…Uusitalo et al [38] also found that if pregnant women took anti-oxidants and trace minerals (including retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, or manganese) during pregnancy, there was no effect on the risk of the child's developing type 1-related autoimmunity.…”