Early or Late Exposure to Solid Food in Children May Increase Risk of Type 1 Diabetes

A latest study reveals that introducing solid food too early or too late in a baby's diet may increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Researchers studied 1, 835 children who had a genetic risk of developing diabetes. Out of these 53  were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

"The increased risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus found with early (less than 4 months) and late (equal or greater than 6 months) introduction of solid foods appears to be driven by late first exposure to rice/oat and early first exposure to wheat/barley and fruit," the study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, said.

The researchers said type 1 diabetes is on the rise, especially among children below five years of age. Under the U.S. guidelines, children are recommended to be given their first solid food between 4-6 months of age.

"There appears to be a safe window in which to introduce solid foods between 4 and 5 months of age; solid foods should be introduced while continuing to breastfeed to minimise type 1 diabetes risk in genetically susceptible children," the researchers wrote in the study.

The research found that early exposure to fruit and fruit juices increased chances of the risk of the disease. But, after feeding the infants with other solid food the link between consumption of fruits and type 1 diabetes became negligible. The researchers wrote that the risk was not particular to any specific food but everything including cereals and fruits may increase the chances of type 1 diabetes in children.

"Additionally, the increased risk predicted by late exposure to solid foods may be related to the cessation of breastfeeding before solid foods are introduced, resulting in a loss of the protective effects of breast milk at the introduction of foreign food antigens," the study said.