Cow's milk and type 1 childhood diabetes: no increase in risk.

A retrospective case-control study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the early introduction of cow's milk and the subsequent risk of developing Type 1 diabetes (< 15 years at diagnosis). A total of 268 children who developed diabetes during the period 1980-1990 (11 years inclusive) in Leicestershire were identified. Age-, sex-, and race-matched controls were identified using the Leicestershire population register. Parents of children with diabetes and their controls completed a structured questionnaire on infant feeding habits from birth. A total of 184 questionnaires (67%) were analysed. There was no difference between the diabetic and control children with respect to the introduction of cow's milk at an early age and the risk of developing diabetes (odds ratio: 0.98 (0.65-1.47)). In addition, short duration of breast-feeding (< 3 months) had no influence on the incidence of diabetes (1.05 (0.64-1.75)). This study does not support the hypothesis that the early introduction of cow's milk or a short duration of breast-feeding increases the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes.