Lower Consumption of Cow Milk Protein A1 β-Casein at 2 Years of Age, Rather than Consumption among 11- to 14-Year-Old Adolescents, May Explain the Lower Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Iceland than in Scandinavia

• Published in: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism
• Main Authors: Birgisdottir, B.E., Hill, J.P., Thorsson, A.V., Thorsdottir, I.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: S. Karger AG 2006
• Subjects: Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000090738; https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/90738

Aim: To compare the consumption of the cow milk proteins A1 and B β-casein among children and adolescents in Iceland and Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland) as this might explain the lower incidence of type 1 diabetes (per 100,000/year, 0–14 years) in Iceland. Methods: The consumption of A1 β-casein in each country among 2- and 11- to 14-year-old children was calculated from results on food intake and on cow milk protein concentration. The consumption values were then compared and evaluated against the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Results: There was a significant difference between the consumption of A1 (p = 0.034) as well as the sum of A1 and B (p = 0.021) β-casein in Iceland and Scandinavia for 2-year-old children. In the same age group, consumption of A1 β-casein correlated with the incidence of type 1 diabetes in the countries (r = 0.9; p = 0.037). No significant difference in consumption of A1 or the sum of A1 and B β-casein was found for 11- to 14-year-old adolescents. Conclusion: This study supports that lower consumption of A1 β-casein might be related to the lower incidence of type 1 diabetes in Iceland than in Scandinavia. Additionally it indicates that consumption in young childhood might be of more importance for the development of the disease incidence than consumption in adolescence.