Sanna MM Heikkinen1, Janne M Pitkäniemi1, Maritta L Kilpeläinen2, Markku J Koskenvuo1
- 1Department of Public Health, Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- 2Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Clinical Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Sanna MM Heikkinen, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland. Email: sanna.mm.heikkinen@helsinki.fi
Abstract
Aims/Hypothesis: Hygiene hypothesis has been shown valid in respect of allergies and asthma but has not been, however, sufficiently studied in relation to type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study investigates the effect of childhood farm environment on the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Finnish children and young adults.
Methods: Data come from a questionnaire study carried out in 2007 (N = 5805). Prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus was analysed according to the type of the rural exposure below the age of 18 years. Associations were estimated and tested using Bayesian methods.
Results: Consistent suggestive evidence of the inverse association of childhood’s farm environment with the occurrence of type 1 diabetes mellitus was shown, even though conclusive results were not reached.
Conclusion/Interpretation: Exposure to a broad variety of non-pathogenic environmental microorganisms during childhood might have a protective effect on type 1 diabetes mellitus. Results clearly suggest that further research is well grounded with larger samples.
This Article
- Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research July 2013 vol. 10 no. 4 375-377
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