Growth in Children with HLA-Conferred Susceptibility to Type 1 Diabetes

The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing throughout the world. This trend may be explained by the accelerator hypothesis. Our study investigated growth, its biochemical markers, and their associations with the development of diabetes-associated auto-antibodies (DAAB) in 219 children with genetic risk for T1D. Subjects were divided into risk groups based on their human leukocyte antigen genotype. Children in the moderate- to high-risk group were significantly taller when corrected to mid-parental height and had a lower insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/IGF-1 binding protein (IGFBP-3) molar ratio than those in the low-risk group (corrected height standard deviation score 0.22 +/- 0.93 vs. -0.04 +/- 0.84, P<0.05; molar ratio 0.199 +/- 0.035 vs. 0.211+0.039, P<0.05). Children with DAAB tended to be taller and to have a higher body mass index than those with no DAAB. Our results suggest that the accelerator hypothesis explaining the increasing incidence of T1D may not solely be dependent on environmental factors, but could be partially genetically determined.

Automated summary

The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing worldwide. Our study found that children at genetic risk for T1D who were taller had a lower IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio, and children with diabetes-associated auto-antibodies (DAAB) tended to be taller and have a higher body mass index. The accelerator hypothesis for the increasing incidence of T1D may not solely be dependent on environmental factors, but could be partially genetically determined.