Reduced risk of IDDM among breast-fed children. The Colorado IDDM Registry.
The hypothesis that breast-feeding can provide protection against the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and would, therefore, be less common among subjects with IDDM was tested with a retrospective design. Cases (n = 268) were selected from the Colorado IDDM Registry and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (Denver, CO). Two control groups were recruited, one from physicians' practices throughout Colorado (n = 291) and the second through random-digit dialing from the Denver area (n = 188). Cases were less likely to have been breast-fed than controls after adjustment for birth year, maternal age, maternal education, family income, race, and sex [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.50-0.97]. This finding was consistent for both control groups and by birth-year intervals. A greater decrease in risk of IDDM was seen among subjects who had been breast-fed to an older age (for breast-feeding duration of greater than or equal to 12 mo, adjusted OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.27-1.08). The amount of IDDM that might be explained by breast-feeding habits (population percentage attributable risk) ranged from 2 to 26%, varying according to the breast-feeding prevalence reported in other studies. Replication of this work in different populations, controlled for the strong secular trends in breast-feeding habits, is critical before the hypothesis of protection is accepted.
Mayer
E J
EJ
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262.
Hamman
R F
RF
Gay
E C
EC
Lezotte
D C
DC
Savitz
D A
DA
Klingensmith
G J
GJ
D001942:Breast Feeding; D003120:Colorado; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors