Growth differences between North American and European children at risk for type 1 diabetes Pediatric Diabetes, 04/19/2012

Nucci AM et al. – There are regional differences in early childhood growth that are consistent with the higher incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Northern Europe and Canada as compared to Southern Europe. The authors prospective study from birth will allow evaluation of relationships between growth and the emerging development of autoimmunity and progression to T1D by region in this at–risk population of children.

• Anthropometric indices between birth to 5 yr of age were compared among regions and T1D proband in 2160 children participating in the Trial to Reduce Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the Genetically at Risk study.

• Children in Northern Europe had the highest weight z-score between birth to 12 months of age, while those in Southern Europe and USA had the lowest weight and length/height z-scores at most time points (p < 0.005 to p < 0.001).
• Few differences in z-score values for weight, height, and body mass index were found by maternal T1D status.
• Using International Obesity Task Force criteria, the obesity rates generally increased with age and at 5 yr were highest in males in Northern Europe (6.0%) and in females in Canada (12.8%).
• However, no statistically significance difference was found by geographic region.
• In Canada, the obesity rate for female children of mothers with and without T1D differed significantly at 4 and 5 yr (6.0 vs. 0.0% and 21.3 vs. 1.9%, respectively; p < 0.0125) but no differences by maternal T1D status were found in other regions.