Risk factors for type 1 diabetes, including environmental, behavioural and gut microbial factors: a case–control study

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common autoimmune disease that is characterized by insufficient insulin production. The onset of T1D is the result of gene-environment interactions. Sociodemographic and behavioural factors may contribute to T1D, and the gut microbiota is proposed to be a driving factor of T1D. An integrated preventive strategy for T1D is not available at present. This case–control study attempted to estimate the exposure linked to T1D to identify significant risk factors for healthy children. Forty children with T1D and 56 healthy controls were included in this study. Anthropometric, socio-economic, nutritional, behavioural, and clinical data were collected. Faecal bacteria were investigated by molecular methods. The findings showed, in multivariable model, that the risk factors for T1D include higher Firmicutes levels (OR 7.30; IC 2.26–23.54) and higher carbohydrate intake (OR 1.03; IC 1.01–1.05), whereas having a greater amount of Bifidobacterium in the gut (OR 0.13; IC 0.05 – 0.34) was a protective factor for T1D. These findings may facilitate the development of preventive strategies for T1D, such as performing genetic screening, characterizing the gut microbiota, and managing nutritional and social factors.

Type 1 diabetes incidence in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

“…It is noteworthy that an increase in type 1 diabetes incidence during lockdown was observed in our study. This could be explained by the “microbiome hypothesis”: the “different” environmental factors during the pandemic may have influenced the balance of “good” and “bad” organisms/bacteria in the gut, which has been shown to be linked to a higher type 1 diabetes incidence, especially in young children [33] , [34] .…”

Precision Medicine and Public Health: New Challenges for Effective and Sustainable Health

“…From such a point of view, the gut microbiota is a selective agent shaping the adaptive evolution of the human diet, phenotypic plasticity, gastrointestinal morphology, and immunity. Therefore, as can be expected, microbiota aberrations (dysbiosis), since childhood, have been associated with a range of communicable [108][109][110] and noncommunicable diseases, including obesity and metabolic syndrome [111], diabetes [112,113], inflammatory bowel disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [114], asthma, allergies [115], some types of cancer [116], and even certain neuropsychiatric disorders [117] (Table 1). Most of the significant taxa belonged to the Gram-negative bacteria producing LPS.…”

Gut microbiota, behavior, and nutrition after type 1 diabetes diagnosis: A longitudinal study for supporting data in the metabolic control

“…The work was conducted following the STROBE statement for a prospective study. The recruitment included 35 patients with pediatric diagnosed as affected by T1D in the two main pediatric hospitals in the Piedmont region as previously described ( 26 ). The inclusion criteria were recent diagnosis of T1D, age (5–10 years), normal weight, and residence in Piedmont.…”

“…The study began in January 2016, with the recruitment of patients at the onset (25), and ended in September 2018, after the conclusion of the follow-up for each included patient (followup phase of clinicaltrial.gov Protocol ID: G12114000080001). The work was conducted following the STROBE statement for a prospective study.…”