Within the next 10 years the EU-funded Diabetes Prevention
study, part of an international study called TRIGR (Trial to
Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk), coordinated at the
University of Helsinki, Finland, will generate a definite answer
to the question whether early nutritional modification may
prevent type 1 diabetes later in childhood. Type 1 diabetes is a
growing health problem among European children. European data
indicate that the disease incidence has increased five-six-fold
among children under the age of 15 years after World War II, and
there are no signs that the increase in incidence is levelling
off. The most conspicuous increase has been seen among children
under the age of 5 years. The TRIGR study is the first study
ever aimed at primary prevention of type 1 diabetes. The study
is designed to answer to the question whether excluding cow's
milk protein from the infant's diet decreases the risk of fu-
ture diabetes. All subjects are followed for 10 years to get
information on whether the di