The number of evidence that shows that women's eating habits during pregnancy condition, and much, the health of their future child is increasing.
This is the case of the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which together with the folic acid improve the development of the attention of during the childish stage of the neonates.
However, the benefits of these fatty acids in pregnancy do not end there.In fact, a new study carried out by researchers from the National Institute of Health and Welfare of Finland in Helsinki (Finland) shows that the consumption of omega-3 acids derived from fish oil during pregnancy or breastfeeding reduces, and much, and much,The risk of the baby to develop type 1 diabetes.
As Sari Niinistö, director of this research published in the "Diabetologia", "our results, reinforce the idea that breastfeeding or some components included in breast milk, including fatty acids, have a protective effect, especially especially inthe early autoimmunity phase.And also, that the state of the long chain omega-3 during the first months, in what the immune system is still maturing and is ‘programming, is critical».
not with formula milk
Today, more than 20 million people with type 1 diabetes coexist throughout the world, autoimmune disease characterized by destruction by the immune system of the cells responsible for the production of insulin - the well -known beta cells of the pancreatic islets-.A pathology that, in general, develops during childhood and in whose appearance they could, at least in theory, play fatty acids.And it is that numerous studies have suggested that these fatty acids alter both the immune system and inflammatory reactions - if the evidence achieved in this regard is not of all conclusive.
Therefore, the objective of the new study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the levels in blood of omega-3 fatty acids and the development of type 1 diabetes in children with a high genetic risk of suffering from the disease.And for this, the authors had the participation of 7,782 minors to which they took blood samples periodically until they turned 15 years to detect the possible presence of 'autoantibodies' - this is, of antibodies developed by the systemImmune against the organism itself - in front of the pancreatic islets.
The results showed that the high levels in blood of two omega-3 fatty acids-concluded, of docosahexaenic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenic acid (DPA)-were associated with a lower risk of early autoimmunity in front of pancreatic beta cells and,Therefore, with a lower probability of the appearance of type 1 diabetes. However, not all Omega-3 acids had this positive effect.For example, high levels of alpha-linoleic acid (wing) led to an increase in the risk of disease development.
But what does it depend on that babies and young children have some older, or minors, DHA and DPA levels?Well basically, of the type of milk consumed during the first months of life.And as the study shows, babies fed with breast milk have higher serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids associated with a lower risk of type 1 diabetes than those who received formula milk-from beef origin.
more studies are needed
In short, it seems that the increase in the intake of fatty acids derived from fish and a larger duration of breastfeeding could have very positive effects when reducing autoimmune responses that lead to the appearance of type 1 diabetes.
However, and althoughThe new evidences suggest possible ways for the prevention and treatment of the disease, more studies must be carried out.As the authors conclude, «we must be cautious, since an association does not necessarily imply that there is a causality.More research should be carried out to confirm whether fatty acids can protect children from autoimmune responses that trigger type 1 diabetes ».