Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Its global incidence is rising by 3-4% annually, especially in developed countries, pointing to environmental factors. As the immune system forms early in life, researchers are exploring how maternal diet during pregnancy may influence a child's immune development.
To explore this connection, researchers analyzed data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC), tracking 67,701 mother-child pairs from 1996 to 2002. At around 25 weeks of pregnancy, women completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire covering 360 items across 38 food groups. From this, researchers calculated an “energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index” (EDII) to assess the inflammatory potential of their diets.
Foods with pro-inflammatory properties included red and processed meats, sugary drinks, refined grains, deep-fried items, and products high in added sugar or trans fats. Anti-inflammatory foods included garlic, tomatoes, whole grains, leafy greens, fruits, and fish. Over a 17-year follow-up period, 281 children developed type 1 diabetes, with an average age of diagnosis at 10.
“A low-grade inflammatory state secondary to an altered immune cell profile, which triggers pro-inflammatory pathways, is increasingly acknowledged as a critical early-life factor influencing offspring health,” wrote the researchers. Notably, three maternal factors—pro-inflammatory diet, gluten intake, and smoking—were found to independently predict type 1 diabetes risk.
The researchers conclude that “mid-pregnancy may be a critical period during which the fetus is particularly susceptible to maternal lifestyle influences” in shaping the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood or adolescence.
Reference: Noorzae R, Bjerregaard AA, Halldorsson TI, et al
Association between a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes risk in offspring: prospective cohort study
J Epidemiol Community Health Published Online First: 01 July 2025. doi: 10.1136/jech-2024-223320
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