For Your Child
Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Linked to Omega-3 Fatty AcidsYoungsters at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes might be able to prevent the disease by eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a new study suggests.
Reporting in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers found that high-risk children with the highest omega-3 intake had up to a 55 percent reduced risk of type 1 diabetes.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, walnuts and certain plant oils such as canola and olive. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are believed to help reduce the incidence of heart disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks the islet cells in the pancreas. Insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, is produced by the islet cells. Significant Reduction in Type 1 Diabetes RatesIn past research, scientists discovered that Norwegian children who were regularly given cod liver oil supplements, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, had a lower incidence of type 1 diabetes. It was not clear, however, whether the vitamin D or the omega-3 was responsible for the reduced risk. To assess the affect of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on the risk of type 1 diabetes, study author Jill Norris, Ph.D., of the University of Colorado at Denver, and her colleagues recruited 1,770 children who were at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes. They either had a family member with the disease or had genetic markers that put them at a higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes. Parents began periodically reporting dietary intake when the children were a year old. The average age at follow-up was 6.2 years. During that time period, 58 children developed type 1 diabetes, according to the study. The researchers found no statistically significant differences in the rate of diabetes based on omega-6 consumption; however, there was a 55 percent reduced risk in those who reported consuming the most omega-3 fatty acids. Because self-reported dietary information is not always the most reliable indicator of actual consumption, the researchers conducted an analysis that included 244 children and measured a biomarker of omega-3 consumption from the blood. In this subgroup, the researchers found that omega-3 fatty acid consumption reduced the risk of type 1 diabetes by 37 percent. Norris says the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s may be behind this potentially protective effect. "Inflammation is part of the very early process of diabetes," she explains. "In type 1 diabetes, there is an inflammatory response that causes [islet] cell destruction, and it may be that omega-3 is a modulator of that inflammation," says Dr. Stuart Weiss of New York University Medical Center. Weiss cautions that this effect may not be permanent, however. "It may just be that omega-3s have delayed the onset of the disease, but the longer those cells function, the better," he says. Findings Need Confirmation, Experts SayWeiss adds that he hopes the findings prompt a large, randomized, controlled study to confirm whether or not omega-3 consumption can truly prevent diabetes. Norris says it is too soon to recommend that children - even those at high risk of diabetes - consume more omega-3s to prevent diabetes. Weiss says that omega-3 fatty acids are often already part of a healthy diet since they are found in fish, fish oil and plant oils. For more information on treating and managing diabetes, finding a diabetes specialist and other children's health conditions, visit www.uvachildrenshospital.com. Always consult your physician for more information. Online Resources(Our organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.) American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Family Physicians - Nutrition and Fitness American Academy of Pediatrics National Diabetes Education Program National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |
December 2007Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Linked to Omega-3 Fatty Acids Significant Reduction in Type 1 Diabetes Rates Findings Need Confirmation, Experts Say Teens and DiabetesAlthough the teenage years can be a challenge for any child as they goes through sexual and emotional changes, it can be especially trying for adolescents with diabetes. Adolescents inherently want to fit in. Being different in any way from their peers can be emotionally stressful, especially for teenagers. Teens who previously complied very well with their diabetes management plan may now become rebellious and refuse to comply. They may also experience denial of the disease, or display increasingly aggressive behavior in reaction to the stress of managing diabetes during a time in their lives that is challenging enough already. One aspect of diabetes management - blood sugar control - is especially hard during adolescence. Researchers believe the growth hormone produced during adolescence to stimulate bone and muscle growth may also act as an anti-insulin agent. Blood sugar levels become harder to control, resulting in blood sugar levels that swing from too low to too high. This lack of control over blood sugar levels can be very frustrating for your teenager. There are several steps you can take to help your teenager cope with their diabetes. Have open communication between you and your teenager. You should recognize that your teenager wants to be treated as an adult, even if that means letting themtake charge of their diabetes management plan. Adolescence is a time of spontaneity, such as stopping for pizza after school. However, teenagers with diabetes also need to realize that managing their diabetes successfully will give them the flexibility they crave. Teenagers want to be in charge of their own lives, and create their own identities. To achieve this control, your teenager will test limits. But a teenager with diabetes can learn that to exert control over their diabetes, they are learning to gain control over other parts of their lives. Always consult your physician for more information. |