Does farm environment protect against type 1 diabetes mellitus?

: Heikkinen SMM, Pitkaniemi JM, Kilpelainen ML, Koskenvuo MJ

Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD

: LONDON; 1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

: 2013

: Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research

: Diabetes & Vascular Disease Research

: Diabetes Vasc.Dis.Res.

: 4

: 10

: 4

: 375

: 377

: 3

: 1479-1641

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1479164112474907

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.