The Relationship Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Oxidative Stress in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that primarily occurs in childhood and is characterized by insufficient insulin secretion due to damage to the beta cells of the pancreas. While the incidence of Type 1 diabetes is increasing, the age of onset is also decreasing.

Diabetes management is crucial for maintaining and protecting health. When glycemic control is not achieved, the number of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events increases. HbA1c levels rise. This situation results in poor metabolic control. Oxidative stress in the body increases. Oxidative stress can play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, and if the disease is not controlled, it leads to the development and rapid progression of complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, etc.).

Many studies conducted on diabetic children have shown that their oxidative stress levels are high and antioxidant levels are low compared to healthy controls.

Nutrition, the foods we consume, are modifiable determinants of oxidative stress. The antioxidant and polyphenol content of the diet is particularly important. The Mediterranean diet; Foods rich in antioxidants, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, olive oil, nuts, and fermented foods, have been shown in many studies to have a protective effect.

In the first phase of the study, participants will be divided into two groups based on their HbA1c levels: those with HbA1c ≤7 (meeting the metabolic target) (Group A); and those with HbA1c >7 (not meeting the metabolic target) (Group B). Information will be collected from participants using questionnaires, scales, and experimental methods. This includes completing a Personal Information Form, a Biochemical Parameters Form, a 3-Day Food Intake Record, the KIDMED scale, and a continuous glucose monitoring sensor data form. Disease-specific information will be obtained from patient files, while biochemical data will include routine follow-up measurements such as complete blood count, CRP, CK, HbA1c%, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), liver function tests (AST, ALT), kidney function tests (BUN, urea, creatinine), TSH, ST4, and vitamin D. Oxidative stress markers FASN, G6PD, GST, GR, and 6-PGD will be measured in venous blood. Blood samples will be taken in the outpatient clinic by a diabetes nurse. Anthropometric measurements will be taken as part of the personal information form. Body weight and height measurements will be taken in the outpatient clinic by a nutritionist (the same person). Height measurements will be taken with a stadiometer with 0.1 cm accuracy, while the patient is in an upright position with the head in the Frankfort plane (the ear canal and the lower boundary of the orbit/eye socket are aligned, and the gaze is parallel to the ground). Body weight measurements will be taken with a scale with 0.1 gram accuracy. Anthropometric data (body mass index, weight, height, and standard deviation scores) will be evaluated according to the standards developed by Neyzi et al. for Turkish children. To ensure accurate food consumption records, the nutritionist will provide training on correctly expressing portion sizes using spoons, bowls, ladles, cups, etc., and the patients will be asked to keep a record using a form for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend. In the evaluation of three-day food consumption, the Nutrition Information System (BEBIS) software package containing food compositions specific to Turkey will be used, and the analysis results will be compared with the dietary reference intakes in the recommendations of the Turkish Nutrition Guide.

In the second stage, the intervention group will be determined according to the results of the KIDMED (Mediterranean Diet Quality) scale, which is a pediatric Mediterranean diet adherence scale. The KIDMED scale (Mediterranean Diet Quality) was developed by Serra Majem et al. in 2004. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Şahingöz et al. in 2019. The scale consists of 16 questions. The questions are answered with yes (1) and no (2). Items 6, 12, 14, and 16 are scored as -1, and the remaining 12 items are scored as +1. In the evaluation of the scale, ≤ 3 is considered low adherence, 4-7 is considered moderate adherence, and ≥ 8 is considered high adherence. In our study, those in Group B who did not meet metabolic targets, and those with KIDMED results deemed "poor" and "needing improvement," will form the intervention group (Group C).

Adolescents in Group C will be scheduled for a 12-week Mediterranean diet intervention. The Mediterranean Diet training is planned as a 30-45 minute face-to-face meeting, and the brochure to be used in the training is available in Appendix 1. Visits will be made by phone between weeks 2-3 and weeks 7-9, and diet compliance will be monitored with dietitian consultations, with additional motivational consultations provided if necessary. A face-to-face meeting will be held in week 12, and anthropometric measurements will be repeated. Three-day food consumption records will be taken. Biochemical data obtained during routine 3-month follow-up will be retrieved from file information. Oxidative stress markers will be repeated.

If there are cases in Group A that are poor or needing improvement, these individuals will also receive Mediterranean Diet training, and their follow-up will continue with the dietitian of the department they are being monitored by. Participants in group B who received a 'good' KIDMED score will continue with standard medical nutritional therapy under the guidance of a dietitian.