Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes: Review and Recommendations for Icelandic Dairy

• Other Authors: Thunberg, Carly Marie (Author), Morse, Lisa (Thesis Director), Grgich, Traci (Committee Member), College of Health Solutions, Barrett, The Honors College
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Nutrition; Food Science; Scandinavia; Dairy; Diabetes; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.56139

abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the B-casein fractions in Scandinavian and Icelandic milk for evidence to either support or refute the claim that the A1 variant of B-casein is diabetogenic in adolescent populations. Based on the theory that differences in milk protein composition explain a lower incidence of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in Iceland when compared to surrounding Nordic countries, an informative poster was created so that a more educated decision can be made by those wishing to take preventative measures against the incidence of the disease. This paper includes a basic background behind the epidemiology of T1D and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Next, comparison between milk protein composition and consumption in Iceland against the other Nordic countries is performed through an in-depth literature review. The review was conducted using PubMed databases until December of 2018. Key findings of this investigation raise concerns regarding the decision between optimizing milk producing rates or breeding for milk devoid of diabetogenic proteins. The current literature on the impact of cattle genetics on the protein composition of milk sheds light on the safety of Icelandic dairy and the resulting health of their population. Icelandic dairy has been evidenced to contain lower levels of A1 b-casein and is considered less diabetogenic. For these reasons, this author would recommend the consumption of Icelandic dairy products over those from other regions.