A study has found that excessive consumption of gluten protein from flour during pregnancy increases the risk of type 1 diabetes in children.
Researchers from the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark and the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen noted on 2nd that "for every unit increase in the dietary index quantifying the level of inflammatory food intake by pregnant women, the risk of type 1 diabetes in children increases by 16%." The study results were published that day in the international journal "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health."
Patients with type 1 diabetes cannot control blood sugar because the beta cells that secrete insulin in the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system. It is often referred to as childhood diabetes due to the prevalence of cases in children. The researchers stated, "The incidence of new cases of type 1 diabetes has steadily increased by 3-4% annually, particularly in developed countries," adding that "this suggests that environmental factors significantly affect the onset of the disease."
The immune system that destroys beta cells is formed from fetal development. The researchers conducted a study to examine the impact of the mother's diet during pregnancy on the child's immune system and inflammatory response, analyzing data from 67,701 mother-child pairs participating in the Danish National Birth Cohort from January 1996 to October 2002.
The researchers calculated an index (EDII) that scores the inflammatory potential of the diet based on a food intake frequency survey conducted at 25 weeks of pregnancy. Inflammatory foods included processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, pastries, foods made from refined grains like white bread or pasta, fried foods, sugar-laden products, and trans fats commonly found in margarine and shortening used in baking.
As a result of tracking the subjects for an average of 17 years, 281 children, or 0.5% of the subjects, were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, with an average age of diagnosis at 10 years. The EDII scores for the pregnant women varied from -5.3 to 4.1, indicating that higher scores meant a greater consumption of inflammatory food.
The risk of type 1 diabetes in children was closely related to the mother's EDII score. Even after accounting for other factors, the risk of onset in children increased by 16% for each unit increase in the EDII score. The researchers explained, "If the gluten intake of pregnant women increased by 10 grams, the risk of type 1 diabetes in children increased by 36%."
While there was no significant difference in total caloric intake, a high intake of meat, low-fat dairy products, pizza, margarine, potatoes, low-calorie beverages, French fries, and snacks resulted in higher EDII scores. In contrast, a high intake of onions, tomatoes, whole grains, coffee, green vegetables, fruit juices, fatty fish, tea, and fruits was associated with lower EDII scores.
Pregnant women with high EDII scores tended to be younger, have shorter breastfeeding durations, and often face adverse socioeconomic conditions. Additionally, they tended to have a high body mass index (BMI) and continued smoking after the 12th week of pregnancy, which could indicate a neglectful attitude towards health management.
The researchers stated, "An inflammatory diet during the second trimester, gluten intake, and smoking are each independently associated with the risk of type 1 diabetes in children," adding that "the second trimester may be a critical period influencing the future onset of diabetes in children."
References
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2024-223320