[Bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibodies in children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes with breast feeding and milk exposition].
BACKGROUND
Environmental and genetic factors (viruses, toxins and diet) are involved in the aetiology of type 1 diabetes. Among the dietary factors, the role of breast feeding and exposure to cow's milk proteins deserve special attention.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the anti-BSA-IgG levels in type 1 diabetic children and to analyse the possible association with breast feeding duration, exposure to cow's milk and beta pancreatic auto-antibodies.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 161 diabetic children and 144 controls to measure anti-BSA-IgG level, GAD65, IA-2 and ICA autoantibodies. All children answered a questionnaire about dietary habits during infancy.


RESULTS
anti-BSA-IgG was positive (using a cut off point of 25.6 ng/ml) in 98% of diabetic children and 0% of the control population. The length of breast feeding or early exposure to cow's milk did not influence the concentration of anti-BSA-IgG. Positive BSA titers did not increase the beta pancreatic reactivity (ICA+, GAD+, IA2+).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm the high frequency of anti-BSA-IgG among diabetic children. However, a specific role in the immunological process of type 1 diabetes cannot be attributed to this protein.
Oyarzún
Amaya
A
Programa de Epidemiología Genética, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile.
Santos
J Luis
JL
Carrasco
Elena
E
Albala
Cecilia
C
Salinas
Alfonso
A
Pérez
Francisco
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C048844:anti-IgG; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine