[Auto-antibody profile and breast feeding in type 1 diabetic patients]. / Perfil de auto-anticuerpos y lactancia materna en pacientes diabéticos tipo 1.

BACKGROUND: Islet cell-specific autoantibodies such as islet cell antibody (ICA), antiinsulin (IAA), anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and anti-tyrosine phosphatase (IA2) can be present in patients with type I diabetes. Breast feeding duration and the early exposure to milk substitutes are environmental factors associated to etiology of type 1 diabetes. AIM: To study the frequency of the anti-GAD, anti-IA-2 e ICA antibodies in Chilean type 1 diabetic patients and determine the possible modulator effect of the breast feeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty four type 1 diabetic patients, aged one to 15 years old, were studied at the moment of their diagnosis. Patients were classified according to the duration of exclusive breast feeding. IA-2 and GAD were determined by radio immuno assay and ICA by means of indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Subjects with three months or less and those with more than three months of breast feeding were positive for ICA in 78.8 and 90.6% of cases respectively, for GAD in 75 and 54.6% of cases respectively (p = 0.024) and for IA-2 in 73 and 43.8% of cases respectively (p = 0.001). All three antibodies were positive in 53.9 and 21.8% of children with less or more than three months of breast feeding (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both IA-2 and GAD antibodies are less frequently positive in type 1 diabetic patients who have been breast fed for more than three months. These findings suggest a possible attenuating role of exclusive breast feeding on pancreatic aggression events in patients with type 1 diabetes.

[The effects of a dietary fiber (white lupine bran) in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes]. / Efectos de una fibra dietaria (salvado de lupino dulce) en el tratamiento de la diabetes no insulinodependiente.

We evaluated the effect of dietary fiber from sweet lupine hull (SLH) upon metabolic control in 16 non insulin dependent diabetics (11 males, mean age 52). Body mass index was 23 +/- 2 and non fasting glucose levels were < 200 mg/dl. Following a 2 month control period, patients received SLH, 10 g th 3rd month and 20 g the fourth. Eleven patients received in addition oral hypoglycemic drugs. Intake of crude dietary fiber increased from 4.1 +/- 1.7 to 8.4 +/- 2 and 13.1 +/- 1 g from control to the 3rd and 4th month. Blood glucose increased and cholesterol level decreased in the 3rd month (p < 0.05). During the 4th month, blood glucose decreased to control levels. No changes were observed in body mass, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glycosylated Hb and non-fasting glucose and insulin levels in relation to fiber intake. We conclude that dietary fiber intake is low in our patients but a supplement of 10 to 20 g of this particular fiber did not improve metabolic control.

[Prevalence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in school children of the metropolitan area]. / Prevalencia de diabetes mellitus insulinodependiente en escolares de la region metropolitana.

The prevalence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was determined in 1,078,109 students of 2,150 schools between 5 and 19 years of age. 147 diabetic females and 107 diabetic males were found, for a prevalence of 25/100,000 in females and 20/100,000 in males (p less than 0.01). Prevalence of diabetes among 3 age groups, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19 years, was 17, 22 and 19 per 100,000 in males and 22, 32 and 28 per 100,000 in females, respectively. The higher prevalence in females was significant at all age levels. Overall prevalence according to age was 19, 27 and 24 per 100,000 in the corresponding age groups (significantly higher in the 10-14 year old age group, p less than 0.01).