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Cow’s milk and immune-mediated diabetes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Hermann E. Wasmuth  and
Hubert Kolb
Hermann E. Wasmuth
Affiliation:
German Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Düsseldorf, Auf'm Hennekamp 65, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Hubert Kolb*
Affiliation:
German Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Düsseldorf, Auf'm Hennekamp 65, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
*
Corresponding Author: Dr Hubert Kolb, fax +49 211 3382 606, email kolb@dfi.uni-duesseldorf.de
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Abstract

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Cow’s milk-based infant formulas and cow’s milk consumption in childhood have been suggested to promote the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus and other immune-mediated or neurological diseases. Epidemiological studies in man have led to the hypothesis that introduction of cow’s milk-based infant formula within the first 3 months of life is associated with increased risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, in animal models of type 1 diabetes mellitus, cow’s milk proteins have been proven to be ‘diabetogenic’. However, the issue seems far from being resolved. Several epidemiological studies and, more importantly, the first prospective trials did not show an association between early exposure to cow’s milk and type 1 diabetes mellitus. In animal models, cow’s milk proteins are modestly and variably diabetogenic, wheat or soyabean proteins in the diet cause higher rates of autoimmune diabetes. In both man and rodents there is increasing evidence that the gut-associated immune system plays a major role in disease development, probably because of disturbed oral tolerance mechanisms. Oral tolerance depends on immunological homeostasis and normal maturation of the gut. These factors are influenced by growth factors and cytokines from breast milk, normal bacterial colonization, infections and diet. All these factors have been proposed as risk factors for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hence, cow’s milk proteins may provide mimicry epitopes relevant in autoimmunity, as well as destabilizing oral tolerance mechanisms by biologically active peptides. The concept of dietary regulation of autoimmunity does not apply only to cow’s milk protein, but also to other dietary proteins.

Keywords

Cow’s milk proteinType 1-diabetes mellitusGut-associated immune system
Type
Meeting Report
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 59 , Issue 4 , November 2000 , pp. 573 - 579
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

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