Autologous umbilical cord blood infusion followed by oral docosahexaenoic acid and vitamin D supplementation for C-peptide preservation in children with Type 1 diabetes.
Study Goal
The researchers sought to determine if supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) alongside vitamin D and autologous umbilical cord blood infusion could preserve C-peptide levels in children with type 1 diabetes.
Results Summary
DHA levels increased significantly in treated subjects compared to controls, but the intervention failed to significantly preserve C-peptide levels or reduce insulin use. The study noted no severe adverse events.
Population
Children with type 1 diabetes (median ages 7.2 and 6.6 years in treated and control groups, respectively).
Effective Dosage
38 mg/kg daily
Duration
1 year
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion followed by 1 year of supplementation with vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | no change | C-peptide | children with type 1 diabetes | - | failed to preserve | #1 |
autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion followed by 1 year of supplementation with vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | no change | severe adverse events | children with type 1 diabetes | No severe adverse events were observed | was safe | #2 |
autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion followed by 1 year of supplementation with vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | decrease | absolute rate of C-peptide decline | treated subjects | - | slower | #3 |
- | decrease | Area under the curve C-peptide | both groups | - | declined | #4 |
- | increase | insulin use | both groups | - | increased | #5 |
daily oral vitamin D (2000 IU) | no change | Vitamin D levels | treated subjects | - | remained stable | #6 |
- | decrease | Vitamin D levels | control subjects | - | declined | #7 |
DHA (38 mg/kg) | increase | DHA levels | treated subjects | - | rose | #8 |
- | no change | CD4/CD8 ratio | treated subjects | - | remained stable | #9 |
- | decrease | CD4/CD8 ratio | control subjects | - | declined | #10 |
- | no change | regulatory T cell frequency | - | - | No changes were seen | #11 |
- | no change | total CD4 counts | - | - | No changes were seen | #12 |
- | no change | autoantibody titers | - | - | No changes were seen | #13 |
We sought to determine if autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion followed by 1 year of supplementation with vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can preserve C-peptide in children with type 1 diabetes. We conducted an open-label, 2:1 randomized study in which 15 type 1 diabetes subjects with stimulated C-peptide > .2 pmol/mL received either (1) autologous UCB infusion, 1 year of daily oral vitamin D (2000 IU), and DHA (38 mg/kg) and intensive diabetes management or (2) intensive diabetes management alone. Primary analyses were performed 1 year after UCB infusion. Treated (N = 10) and control (N = 5) subjects had median ages of 7.2 and 6.6 years, respectively. No severe adverse events were observed. Although the absolute rate of C-peptide decline was slower in treated versus control subjects, intergroup comparisons failed to reach significance (P = .29). Area under the curve C-peptide declined and insulin use increased in both groups (P < .01). Vitamin D levels remained stable in treated subjects but declined in control subjects (P = .01). DHA levels rose in treated subjects versus control subjects (P = .003). CD4/CD8 ratio remained stable in treated subjects but declined in control subjects (P = .03). No changes were seen in regulatory T cell frequency, total CD4 counts, or autoantibody titers. Autologous UCB infusion followed by daily supplementation with vitamin D and DHA was safe but failed to preserve C-peptide. Lack of significance may reflect small sample size. Future efforts will require expansion of specific immunoregulatory cell subsets, optimization of combined immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory agents, and larger study cohorts.