The China Study by Thomas Campbell

AUTOIMMUNE OISEASES 189

with a virus that may corrupt the gut immune system,l9 are likely to
have a high risk for Type 1 diabetes. A study in Chile^23 considered the
first two factors, cow's milk and genes. Genetically susceptible children
weaned too early onto cow's milk-based formula had a risk of Type 1 di-
abetes that was 13.1 times greater than children who did not have these
genes and who were breast-fed for at least three months (thus minimiz-
ing their exposure to cow's milk). Another study in the U.S. showed that
genetically susceptible children fed cow's milk as infants had a risk of
disease that was 11.3 times greater than children who did not have these
genes and who were breast-fed for at least three months.^24 This eleven
to thirteen times greater risk is incredibly large (1,000-1,200%!); any-
thing over three to four times is usually considered very important. To
put this in perspective, smokers have approximately ten times greater
risk of getting lung cancer (still less than the eleven to thirteen times
risk here) and people with high blood pressure and cholesterol have a
2.5-3.0 times greater risk of heart disease (Chart 9.2).18
So how much of the eleven to thirteen times increased risk of Type
1 diabetes is due to early exposure to cow's milk, and how much is due

c 0

'p ru

:::J

ru >

L.LJ

-'t:: Vl

a:

CHART 9.2: RELATIVE RISKS OF VARIOUS FACTORS

ON VARIOUS DISEASE OUTCOMES

1,200%

1,000%

800%

600%

400%

200%

Heart

Disease

High Blood Pressure

and Cholesterol

Type 1

Diabetes

Smoking Cow's Milk

+ High-Risk Genes

Risk Factors