Omega-3 in mums’ breast milk may lower children’s risk of diabetes

Researchers in Finland have found a link between the consumption of omega-3 through breast milk and a reduced risk of babies developing type 1 diabetes.

A new study has shown that breastfeeding mums who consume omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly found in fish, nuts, vegetable oils, and leafy vegetables, could offer their babies protection against type 1 diabetes. Scientists from Helsinki's National Institute of Health and Welfare looked at almost 8,000 babies between the ages of 3-24 months who were deemed to be genetically at risk of type 1 diabetes. The researchers took regular blood samples from the participants until the age of 15 to measure diabetes-related (pancreatic beta cell) autoantibodies. The team also tracked the use of breast milk and formula, the two main sources of fatty acids for babies. The study found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids correlated with a lower risk of insulin autoimmunity, leading the team to believe that the fatty acids consumed during breastfeeding could be important in protecting against type 1 diabetes.