Intestinal endotoxin as a trigger of type 1 diabetes mellitus

The blood serum level of intestinal flora endotoxin was studied in 45 children and adolescents aged 3–17 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In all the patients the endotoxin levels 2.89 ± 0.33 EU/ml) were significantly elevated compared to the control group (0.4 ± 0.03 EU/ml). A higher level of endotoxin at the disease onset (3.93 ± 0.79 EU/ml) compared to that in children afflicted with diabetes for more than two years (2.37 ± 0.27 EU/ml) gives evidence of the involvement of endotoxin in the initiation of the disease.