Common colds increase diabetes risk

Danger for children of diabetics

08/07/2013

Frequent colds in the first few months of life of genetically stressed children seem to increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes later. The infections therefore make them more susceptible to the later appearance of so-called autoantibodies, which characterize the development of the disease.

Parent or sibling with diabetes
Children who have a parent or sibling with Type 1 diabetes are at particular risk of contracting if they often catch cold during the first few months of life. This was the conclusion of scientists from the Institute for Diabetes Research at the Helmholtz Center Munich. Infections, especially colds, would make it more susceptible to the later appearance of so-called autoantibodies that characterize the development of type 1 diabetes. In this form of diabetes, antibodies are formed against the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Most commonly, this happens at the age of six months to three years. In the search for possible triggers during this time, the scientists came across, among other respiratory infections.

BABY DIET Study
To arrive at these results, the researchers analyzed the data from 148 participants in the BABYDIAT study, who have a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes. In addition to information such as fever, medication or regular blood value data, infection records were also kept. A distinction was made between respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal infections and other infections. It turned out that in the first year of life a connection exists between respiratory infections and an increased occurrence of autoantibodies. The Munich scientists published their study in the journal „JAMA Pediatrics“.

Potential risk factor for respiratory diseases
First author Andreas Beyerlein from the Institute for Diabetes Research summed up the results: „The analysis has shown that frequent respiratory diseases in the first year of life are a potential risk factor for the development of type 1 diabetes.“ The number of infections has risen sharply in the first six months of life in the BABYDIÄT study. „The immune system is still immature in the first months of life, and after a few months the passive immune protection by the mother is eliminated. "The children, who later had antibodies against their own islet cells, were infected at least twice in the first year of life, especially with The children who had more than five respiratory infections during the same period had the highest antibody probabilities and the scientists believe that the sum of the infections and the inflammatory messengers released is crucial for the risk of an autoimmune reaction.

Avoid colds
According to the study leader Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, it is best to avoid multiple colds in early childhood. She continued: „The development of targeted vaccines or anti-inflammatory therapies could contribute to healthy immune system maturation, and thus prevention of type 1 diabetes, especially in those at genetic risk. "First author Beyerlein explained that the results of the study are only for children with a particular diabetes risk. Risk apply. „These are only children with family-related significantly increased type 1 diabetes risk.“ These children are already being searched for suitable vaccinations. (Ad)

Picture: Karl-Heinz Laube