Abstracts
The Association Between Duration of Breastfeeding and Adult Intelligence
Mortensen, E. L., et al. JAMA 287:2365-2371, 2002
More studies are confirming the important association between breastfeeding and intelligence development. This interesting Danish study, using a prospective longitudinal methodology, studies a sample of 973 men and women, and a sample of 2280 men. The samples were divided into 5 categories based on duration of breastfeeding as assessed by physician interview with mothers at the 1-year post partum examination.
In the men and women samples the Wexhler Adult Intelligence Scale at a mean age of 27.2 was used. For the men only sample group, the Borge Priens Prove Test was used at a mean age of 18.7 years.
Confounding factors considered were parental social status, education, single mother status, mother’s height, age, and weight gain during pregnancy, estimated gestational age, birth weight, birth length, and indexes of pregnancy and delivery complications.
The results demonstrated a significant positive association between IQ outcomes and the duration breastfeeding in two separate sample populations.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Boosts IQ of small Babies
Rao, M. R. et al. Acta Paediatrica 91: 267-74, 2002
Even though full term babies may be small for gestational age, breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months enhances the IQ of infants weighing less than six pounds at birth, a study from Norway determined.
Importantly, small infants who received only breastmilk for the first six months of life scored an average of 11 points higher on IQ tests at age 5 years than infants who received formula and solid food in addition to breastmilk.
The study also debunked the notion that small babies will grow faster if they receive some formula and solid foods.
The study examined 220 full term infants weighing less than 6 pounds, and 229 full term infants weighing more than 6 pounds. The infants were examined for motor skills and mental abilities at 3, 6, 9 and 13 months and then at the age of 5 years.
The small for age babies who were given supplemental foods in addition to being breastfed scored an average of 3 points lower in IQ tests at the age of 13 months than their exclusively breastfed peers.
Exclusive breastfeeding also improved the IQ scores of normal sized infants. At the age of 5 years, those who had received only breastmilk for the first six months scored an average of 3 points higher on intelligence tests than their supplemented peers.
Infant Acceptance of Breastmilk After Maternal Exercise
Wright, Kc.S. et al. Pediatrics 109:585-589, 2002
A new study can set aside questions about breastfeeding and exercise. A revious study, which had received wide publicity, had noted that the build up of lactic acid after intensive exercise resulted in poor acceptance of breastmilk.
This study again examines the composition of post exercise breastmilk and acceptance by the infant while controlling for maternal diet, exercise intensity and the method, timing and assessment of infant feeding. Milk acceptance by the infant was tested by 24 mothers and each feeding episode was videotaped and viewed by three lactation consultants. There were no differences for maternal skin temperatures, breastmilk temperature and infant milk acceptance. The authors concluded that moderate or even high-intensity exercise during lactation does not impede infant acceptance of breastmilk consumed one hour after exercise.
Breastfeeding and lowering the risk of childhood obesity
Armstrong, J. et al. Lancet 359:2003-04, 2002
More research confirming the artificial feeding and obesity link. A large Scottish study to determine the impact of infant feeding on childhood obesity looked at the body-mass index of 32,200 children aged 39 to 42 months. After elimination of confounding factors such as socioeconomic status, birth weight and sex, the prevalence of obesity was significantly lower in the breastfed children; leading to the conclusion that breastfeeding is associated with a reduction in childhood obesity risk.
