Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring (original) (raw)

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis. To test whether cod liver oil or vitamin D supplements either taken by the mother during pregnancy or by the child in the first year of life is associated with lower risk of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in children. Methods. We carried out a population-based case control study in Vest-Agder county of Norway, evaluating the use of supplements by a mailed questionnaire. We received responses from 85 diabetic subjects and 1071 control subjects. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Results. When mothers took cod liver oil during pregnancy their offspring had a lower risk of diabetes. The unadjusted OR was 0.30, 95 % CI: (0.12 to 0.75), p = 0.01. This association changed very little and was still significant after adjusting for age, sex, breastfeeding and maternal education. Mothers taking multivitamin supplements during pregnancy [adjusted OR = 1.11, 95 % CI: (0.69 to 1.77)], infants taking cod liver oil in the first year of life [adjusted OR = 0.82, 95 % CI: (0.47 to 1.42) and the use of other vitamin D supplements in the first year of life [adjusted OR = 1.27, 95 % CI: (0.70 to 2.31)] was significantly associated with the risk of diabetes. Conclusion/interpretation. We found that cod liver oil taken during pregnancy was associated with reduced risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring. This suggests that vitamin D or the _n_-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the cod liver oil, or both, have a protective effect aginst Type I diabetes. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 1093–1098]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway, , , , , , NO
    L. C. Stene & P. Magnus
  2. Department of Paediatrics, Vest-Agder Central Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway, , , , , , NO
    J. Ulriksen
  3. Aker Diabetes Research Centre, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, , , , , , NO
    G. Joner

Authors

  1. L. C. Stene
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  2. J. Ulriksen
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  3. P. Magnus
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  4. G. Joner
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Received: 19 April 2000 and in revised form: 6 June 2000

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Stene, L., Ulriksen, J., Magnus, P. et al. Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring.Diabetologia 43, 1093–1098 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051499

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