Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Markus Mattila; German Tapia; Ketil Størdal; Anne-Lise Brantsæter; Suvi M Virtanen; Nicolai A Lund-Blix; Torild Skrivarhaug; Elin M Hård Af Segerstad; Lars C Stene; Hoffman Kristi; Javornik Cregeen Sara; Petrosino Joseph; Santiago Rodriguez Tasha; Cinek Ondrej; Fronkova Eva; Bisgaard Hans; Bønnelykke Klaus; Brandt Sarah; Sevelsted Astrid; Shah Shiraz; Stokholm Jakob; Thorsen Jonathan; Havlik Jaroslav; Jeníčková Eliška; Schmidtmann Daniel; Thiel Rainer; Hakola Leena; Kiviranta Hannu; Rantakokko Panu; Virtanen Suvi M; Berler Alexander; Karabatea Apostolia; Papadopoulou Korina; Berg Gabriele; Wicaksono Wisnu; Agardh Daniel; Aronsson Carin Andrén; Lundgren Markus; Michaela Boström; Roslund Marja; Sinkkonen Aki; Alibakhshi Sara; Häme Lauri; Boia Patricia-Daiana; Burr Loïc; Cattaneo Stefano; Cristofollini Peter; Demuru Silvia; Generelli Silvia; Nicola Hermann; Hui Chai-Gao; Emilia Barannik; HEDIMED Investigator group; Yawogan Jean Eudes Gbodjo; Matthieu Molinier; Tarja Nevanen; Juha Pajula; Juha Pärkkä; Jukka Ranta; Jyri Rökman; Petri Saviranta; Jean-Peter Ylén; Eija Parmes

doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431

Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Markus Mattila
, German Tapia
, Ketil Størdal
, Anne-Lise Brantsæter
, Suvi M Virtanen
, Nicolai A Lund-Blix
, Torild Skrivarhaug
, Elin M Hård Af Segerstad
, Lars C Stene
, Hoffman Kristi
, Javornik Cregeen Sara
, Petrosino Joseph
, Santiago Rodriguez Tasha
, Cinek Ondrej
, Fronkova Eva
, Bisgaard Hans
, Bønnelykke Klaus
, Brandt Sarah
, Sevelsted Astrid
, Shah Shiraz

Stokholm Jakob, Thorsen Jonathan, Havlik Jaroslav, Jeníčková Eliška, Schmidtmann Daniel, Thiel Rainer, Hakola Leena, Kiviranta Hannu, Rantakokko Panu, Virtanen Suvi M, Berler Alexander, Karabatea Apostolia, Papadopoulou Korina, Berg Gabriele, Wicaksono Wisnu, Agardh Daniel, Aronsson Carin Andrén, Lundgren Markus, Michaela Boström, Roslund Marja, Sinkkonen Aki, Alibakhshi Sara, Häme Lauri, Boia Patricia-Daiana, Burr Loïc, Cattaneo Stefano, Cristofollini Peter, Demuru Silvia, Generelli Silvia, Nicola Hermann, Hui Chai-Gao, Emilia Barannik, HEDIMED Investigator group, Yawogan Jean Eudes Gbodjo, Matthieu Molinier, Tarja Nevanen, Juha Pajula, Juha Pärkkä, Jukka Ranta, Jyri Rökman, Petri Saviranta, Jean-Peter Ylén, Eija Parmes

Tampere University
Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)
University of Oslo
Oslo University Hospital
Oslo kommune
Lund University
Baylor College of Medicine
Charles University
Den Selvejende Institution Dansk Børneastma Center (DBAC)
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CULS)
empirica Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung GmbH
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
GNOMON Informatics S.A.
Graz University of Technology
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Satellio Oy
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A. (CSEM)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamins play a role in antioxidant defense and immunoregulation. However, prospective studies exploring the association between vitamin intakes during pregnancy and the child's risk of type 1 diabetes are limited.

OBJECTIVES: This population-based prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy and risk of type 1 diabetes in children.

METHODS: We included 85,244 children born between 2002 and 2009 in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, with follow-up until 31 December, 2021. Maternal intake of vitamins from food and dietary supplements from conception to the 22nd week of pregnancy was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for background factors.

RESULTS: During follow-up, 529 (0.6%) children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a mean age of 9.4 y (standard deviation: 4.1 y) No associations were observed between maternal pregnancy intake of vitamin A [HR: 0.993; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.983, 1.003/100 μg], vitamin C (HR: 1.000; 95% CI: 0.993, 1.007/10 mg), vitamin D (HR: 0.991; 95% CI: 0.978, 1.003/1 μg), or vitamin E (HR: 0.999; 95% CI: 0.996, 1.004/10 mg) and risk of type 1 diabetes in the child when adjusted for potential confounders. The results were similar when intakes were assessed separately from food and dietary supplements and after restriction to children with human leukocyte antigen DQ2 and/or DQ8 risk haplotypes.

CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study does not support the hypothesis that higher maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy would decrease risk of type 1 diabetes in the child. Corroborated with previous evidence, our findings support a general pattern of null associations.

Original language	English
Article number	101431
Pages (from-to)	101431
Journal	American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume	124
Issue number	3
Early online date	10 Jul 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 10 Jul 2026
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

This study was supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 874864 HEDIMED Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Research Council of Finland (No. 339 922). EMHaS was funded by the South East Norway Health authorities.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

diabetes mellitus
diet
dietary supplements
MoBa
observational study
pregnancy
type 1
vitamins

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Mattila, M., Tapia, G., Størdal, K., Brantsæter, A.-L., Virtanen, S. M., Lund-Blix, N. A., Skrivarhaug, T., Hård Af Segerstad, E. M., Stene, L. C., Kristi, H., Sara, J. C., Joseph, P., Tasha, S. R., Ondrej, C., Eva, F., Hans, B., Klaus, B., Sarah, B., Astrid, S., ... Parmes, E. (2026). Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 124(3), 101431. Article 101431. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431

@article{facd7afd31014460b3c526225d437595,

title = "Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamins play a role in antioxidant defense and immunoregulation. However, prospective studies exploring the association between vitamin intakes during pregnancy and the child's risk of type 1 diabetes are limited.OBJECTIVES: This population-based prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy and risk of type 1 diabetes in children.METHODS: We included 85,244 children born between 2002 and 2009 in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, with follow-up until 31 December, 2021. Maternal intake of vitamins from food and dietary supplements from conception to the 22nd week of pregnancy was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for background factors.RESULTS: During follow-up, 529 (0.6\%) children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a mean age of 9.4 y (standard deviation: 4.1 y) No associations were observed between maternal pregnancy intake of vitamin A [HR: 0.993; 95\% confidence interval (CI): 0.983, 1.003/100 μg], vitamin C (HR: 1.000; 95\% CI: 0.993, 1.007/10 mg), vitamin D (HR: 0.991; 95\% CI: 0.978, 1.003/1 μg), or vitamin E (HR: 0.999; 95\% CI: 0.996, 1.004/10 mg) and risk of type 1 diabetes in the child when adjusted for potential confounders. The results were similar when intakes were assessed separately from food and dietary supplements and after restriction to children with human leukocyte antigen DQ2 and/or DQ8 risk haplotypes.CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study does not support the hypothesis that higher maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy would decrease risk of type 1 diabetes in the child. Corroborated with previous evidence, our findings support a general pattern of null associations.",

keywords = "diabetes mellitus, diet, dietary supplements, MoBa, observational study, pregnancy, type 1, vitamins",

author = "Markus Mattila and German Tapia and Ketil St{\o}rdal and Anne-Lise Brants{\ae}ter and Virtanen, \{Suvi M\} and Lund-Blix, \{Nicolai A\} and Torild Skrivarhaug and \{H{\aa}rd Af Segerstad\}, \{Elin M\} and Stene, \{Lars C\} and Hoffman Kristi and Sara, \{Javornik Cregeen\} and Petrosino Joseph and Tasha, \{Santiago Rodriguez\} and Cinek Ondrej and Fronkova Eva and Bisgaard Hans and B{\o}nnelykke Klaus and Brandt Sarah and Sevelsted Astrid and Shah Shiraz and Stokholm Jakob and Thorsen Jonathan and Havlik Jaroslav and Jen{\'i}{\v c}kov{\'a} Eli{\v s}ka and Schmidtmann Daniel and Thiel Rainer and Hakola Leena and Kiviranta Hannu and Rantakokko Panu and \{Suvi M\}, Virtanen and Berler Alexander and Karabatea Apostolia and Papadopoulou Korina and Berg Gabriele and Wicaksono Wisnu and Agardh Daniel and Andr{\'e}n, \{Aronsson Carin\} and Lundgren Markus and Michaela Bostr{\"o}m and Roslund Marja and Sinkkonen Aki and Alibakhshi Sara and H{\"a}me Lauri and Boia Patricia-Daiana and Burr Lo{\"i}c and Cattaneo Stefano and Cristofollini Peter and Demuru Silvia and Generelli Silvia and Nicola Hermann and Hui Chai-Gao and Emilia Barannik and \{HEDIMED Investigator group\} and Gbodjo, \{Yawogan Jean Eudes\} and Matthieu Molinier and Tarja Nevanen and Juha Pajula and Juha P{\"a}rkk{\"a} and Jukka Ranta and Jyri R{\"o}kman and Petri Saviranta and Jean-Peter Yl{\'e}n and Eija Parmes",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431",

language = "English",

volume = "124",

pages = "101431",

journal = "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition",

issn = "0002-9165",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "3",

}

Mattila, M, Tapia, G, Størdal, K, Brantsæter, A-L, Virtanen, SM, Lund-Blix, NA, Skrivarhaug, T, Hård Af Segerstad, EM, Stene, LC, Kristi, H, Sara, JC, Joseph, P, Tasha, SR, Ondrej, C, Eva, F, Hans, B, Klaus, B, Sarah, B, Astrid, S, Shiraz, S, Jakob, S, Jonathan, T, Jaroslav, H, Eliška, J, Daniel, S, Rainer, T, Leena, H, Hannu, K, Panu, R, Suvi M, V, Alexander, B, Apostolia, K, Korina, P, Gabriele, B, Wisnu, W, Daniel, A, Andrén, AC, Markus, L, Boström, M, Marja, R, Aki, S, Sara, A, Lauri, H, Patricia-Daiana, B, Loïc, B, Stefano, C, Peter, C, Silvia, D, Silvia, G, Hermann, N, Chai-Gao, H, Barannik, E, HEDIMED Investigator group, Gbodjo, YJE , Molinier, M , Nevanen, T , Pajula, J, Pärkkä, J, Ranta, J, Rökman, J , Saviranta, P , Ylén, J-P & Parmes, E 2026, 'Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study', American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 124, no. 3, 101431, pp. 101431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431

Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. / Mattila, Markus; Tapia, German; Størdal, Ketil et al.
In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 124, No. 3, 101431, 09.2026, p. 101431.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child

T2 - the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

AU - Mattila, Markus

AU - Tapia, German

AU - Størdal, Ketil

AU - Brantsæter, Anne-Lise

AU - Virtanen, Suvi M

AU - Lund-Blix, Nicolai A

AU - Skrivarhaug, Torild

AU - Hård Af Segerstad, Elin M

AU - Stene, Lars C

AU - Kristi, Hoffman

AU - Sara, Javornik Cregeen

AU - Joseph, Petrosino

AU - Tasha, Santiago Rodriguez

AU - Ondrej, Cinek

AU - Eva, Fronkova

AU - Hans, Bisgaard

AU - Klaus, Bønnelykke

AU - Sarah, Brandt

AU - Astrid, Sevelsted

AU - Shiraz, Shah

AU - Jakob, Stokholm

AU - Jonathan, Thorsen

AU - Jaroslav, Havlik

AU - Eliška, Jeníčková

AU - Daniel, Schmidtmann

AU - Rainer, Thiel

AU - Leena, Hakola

AU - Hannu, Kiviranta

AU - Panu, Rantakokko

AU - Suvi M, Virtanen

AU - Alexander, Berler

AU - Apostolia, Karabatea

AU - Korina, Papadopoulou

AU - Gabriele, Berg

AU - Wisnu, Wicaksono

AU - Daniel, Agardh

AU - Andrén, Aronsson Carin

AU - Markus, Lundgren

AU - Boström, Michaela

AU - Marja, Roslund

AU - Aki, Sinkkonen

AU - Sara, Alibakhshi

AU - Lauri, Häme

AU - Patricia-Daiana, Boia

AU - Loïc, Burr

AU - Stefano, Cattaneo

AU - Peter, Cristofollini

AU - Silvia, Demuru

AU - Silvia, Generelli

AU - Hermann, Nicola

AU - Chai-Gao, Hui

AU - Barannik, Emilia

AU - HEDIMED Investigator group

AU - Gbodjo, Yawogan Jean Eudes

AU - Molinier, Matthieu

AU - Nevanen, Tarja

AU - Pajula, Juha

AU - Pärkkä, Juha

AU - Ranta, Jukka

AU - Rökman, Jyri

AU - Saviranta, Petri

AU - Ylén, Jean-Peter

AU - Parmes, Eija

PY - 2026/7/10

Y1 - 2026/7/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamins play a role in antioxidant defense and immunoregulation. However, prospective studies exploring the association between vitamin intakes during pregnancy and the child's risk of type 1 diabetes are limited.OBJECTIVES: This population-based prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy and risk of type 1 diabetes in children.METHODS: We included 85,244 children born between 2002 and 2009 in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, with follow-up until 31 December, 2021. Maternal intake of vitamins from food and dietary supplements from conception to the 22nd week of pregnancy was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for background factors.RESULTS: During follow-up, 529 (0.6%) children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a mean age of 9.4 y (standard deviation: 4.1 y) No associations were observed between maternal pregnancy intake of vitamin A [HR: 0.993; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.983, 1.003/100 μg], vitamin C (HR: 1.000; 95% CI: 0.993, 1.007/10 mg), vitamin D (HR: 0.991; 95% CI: 0.978, 1.003/1 μg), or vitamin E (HR: 0.999; 95% CI: 0.996, 1.004/10 mg) and risk of type 1 diabetes in the child when adjusted for potential confounders. The results were similar when intakes were assessed separately from food and dietary supplements and after restriction to children with human leukocyte antigen DQ2 and/or DQ8 risk haplotypes.CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study does not support the hypothesis that higher maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy would decrease risk of type 1 diabetes in the child. Corroborated with previous evidence, our findings support a general pattern of null associations.

AB - BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamins play a role in antioxidant defense and immunoregulation. However, prospective studies exploring the association between vitamin intakes during pregnancy and the child's risk of type 1 diabetes are limited.OBJECTIVES: This population-based prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy and risk of type 1 diabetes in children.METHODS: We included 85,244 children born between 2002 and 2009 in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, with follow-up until 31 December, 2021. Maternal intake of vitamins from food and dietary supplements from conception to the 22nd week of pregnancy was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for background factors.RESULTS: During follow-up, 529 (0.6%) children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a mean age of 9.4 y (standard deviation: 4.1 y) No associations were observed between maternal pregnancy intake of vitamin A [HR: 0.993; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.983, 1.003/100 μg], vitamin C (HR: 1.000; 95% CI: 0.993, 1.007/10 mg), vitamin D (HR: 0.991; 95% CI: 0.978, 1.003/1 μg), or vitamin E (HR: 0.999; 95% CI: 0.996, 1.004/10 mg) and risk of type 1 diabetes in the child when adjusted for potential confounders. The results were similar when intakes were assessed separately from food and dietary supplements and after restriction to children with human leukocyte antigen DQ2 and/or DQ8 risk haplotypes.CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study does not support the hypothesis that higher maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy would decrease risk of type 1 diabetes in the child. Corroborated with previous evidence, our findings support a general pattern of null associations.

KW - diabetes mellitus

KW - diet

KW - dietary supplements

KW - MoBa

KW - observational study

KW - pregnancy

KW - type 1

KW - vitamins

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046222065

U2 - 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431

DO - 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101431

M3 - Article

C2 - 42431596

SN - 0002-9165

VL - 124

SP - 101431

JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

IS - 3

M1 - 101431

ER -

Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

HEDIMED: Human Exposomic Determinants of Immune Mediated Diseases

Cite this

Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

HEDIMED: Human Exposomic Determinants of Immune Mediated Diseases

Cite this