Serum α-Tocopherol Concentrations and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Study in Siblings of Affected Children

Authors:
  • MKM G. Kenward
    M G. Kenward
  • GAG. Alfthan
    G. Alfthan
  • JSJ. Sundvall
    J. Sundvall
  • AAA. Aro
    A. Aro
  • ARA. Reunanen
    A. Reunanen
  • HAH.K. Akerblom
    H.K. Akerblom
  • CSChildhood Diabetes in Finland Study
    Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study
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Abstract
Animal models have indicated that alpha-tocopherol may protect against type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Epidemiological data on the subject are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of serum alpha-tocopherol concentration and risk of DM1 in a cohort of initially non-diabetic siblings of children affected by DM1 (n = 722). We used two study designs: 1) Siblings who progressed to DM1 were compared with control siblings who remained negative for DM1-associated autoantibodies in a nested case-control study design. 2) All siblings with DM1-associated autoantibodies were prospectively followed for DM1. In both designs, high concentrations of serum alpha-tocopherol tended to be associated with a lower risk of DM1 (p = 0.08 and 0.09, respectively). Although the results did not reach statistical significance, they support the hypothesis that high alpha-tocopherol levels may protect against DM1.

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