Last update:
   22-Mar-2022
 

Arch Hellen Med, 39(1), January-February 2022, 106-109

ORIGINAL PAPER

Vitamin D level and early cow's milk protein exposure in type 1 diabetes mellitus

N. Rochmah,1,2 M. Faizi,1,2 I.W. Triastuti,2 G. Wicaksono,2 A. Endaryanto,2 S. Soetjipto3
1Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Prof Dr Moestopo 6–8, Surabaya
2Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Prof Dr Moestopo 6–8, Surabaya
3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Prof Dr Moestopo 6–8, Surabaya, Indonesia

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association of vitamin D levels and cow's milk exposure in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

METHOD This is a case control study of children with T1DM aged 4–18 years and healthy control subjects. The children were grouped by level of vitamin D according to the 2011 guidelines of the Task Force: deficiency (≤20 ng/mL), insufficiency (>20–30 ng/mL), and sufficiency (>30 ng/mL). The children's history of cow's milk exposure was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression, with significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS The study sample included 31 children with T1DM and 24 healthy control subjects. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 4/31 children with T1DM, and none of the control subjects (p<0.001). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were detected in 77.41% of the children with T1DM and 25% of the control subjects (p<0.001), and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were predictors of T1DM (odds ratio [OR]=3.09; p<0.001). The proportion of children exposed to cow's milk in the first 3 months was 51.16% in the T1DM group and 50% in the control subjects (p=1.000). Logistic regression analysis showed that the vitamin D level was significantly correlated with T1DM (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS Low vitamin D levels were shown to be correlated with T1DM, whereas early exposure to cow's milk was not. Vitamin D supplementation is essential since it has an immunomodulatory effect. It is recommended to be given to T1DM children.

Key words: Children, Cow's milk, Risk factors, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Vitamin D.

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