The role of complementary and alternative therapies in pediatric diabetes.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), also referred to as holistic, or integrative, medicine, are terms that describe a heterogeneous collection of nontraditional therapies, from chemical substances, to biofeedback, to prayer. This review focuses on CAM in pediatric patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. CAM prevalence in this population and the specific modalities that have been studied in children are described. Randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective studies in young adults are evaluated for their applicability to pediatric patients. CAM's "complementary" role is emphasized, as there is evidence of significant morbidity when CAM replaces standard-of-care therapy.
Shapiro
Sofia
S
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. sofia.shapiro@mssm.edu
Rapaport
Robert
R
D002648:Child; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000502:physiology; D003060:Cod Liver Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008670:Metals; D014815:Vitamins; D009536:Niacinamide; D003060:Cod Liver Oil