Special baby formula does not affect Type 1 diabetes

JDRF-funded researchers in Finland have found no evidence that using a hypoallergenic baby formula can affect the early stages of Type 1 diabetes.

This contrasts with their findings from a previous pilot study, which suggested that a special type of formula could reduce the chance of genetically at-risk babies developing early indicators of the condition.

In the new trial the infants, who all had a first-degree relative with type 1, were allowed to breastfeed for as long as their mothers wanted to, then given either a special hydrolysed baby formula, or a standard cows’ milk formula containing 20 per cent of the hydrolysed formula, for at least 60 days.

Then, over the next seven years, the researchers took regular blood samples from the children and analysed them for islet autoantibodies. These are proteins that show the immune system is primed to attack the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, and are good indicators of a person’s risk of later developing Type 1 diabetes.

The researchers, led by Professor Mikael Knip of the University of Helsinki, found that the number of children who developed these autoantibodies was roughly the same whether they were given the hydrolysed milk or the cows’ milk formula. The risks remained similar even once the results were adjusted for the length of time the children were fed the formula, and for other genetic and environmental risk factors.

This suggests that, in terms of autoantibody risk, there is no benefit to using hydrolysed milk. However, the study will continue for another three years to assess whether this finding translates to  type 1 risk, as not everyone who develops autoantibodies will go on to develop the condition.

Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, said: ‘The results presented by Professor Knip are interesting and we look forward to seeing the results of continued exploration. Understanding the development of Type 1 diabetes is a vital part of our work to cure, treat and prevent the condition.’

The researchers presented their results at the American Diabetes Association conference in San Francisco, and in the Journal of the American Medical Association.