Long-term neurodevelopmental benefits of breastfeeding

Bar, Sari; Milanaik, Ruth; Adesman, Andrew

doi:10.1097/mop.0000000000000389

Cited by 128 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Breastfeeding is a dynamic, interactive, and bidirectional social behavior and “not simply a meal at the breast” [Kaye & Wells, ; Raju, ]. There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding for the child, such as providing key nutrients for physical and neurologic development, protecting from infections, and decreasing the risk for food allergies, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases [Bar, Milanaik, & Adesman, ; Brahm & Valdes, ]. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and continuation of breastfeeding for at least a year, or as mutually desired by the mother and the child [American Academy of Pediatrics, ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

et al. 2019

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Studies report inconsistent findings on the relationship between ASD and breastfeeding. We explored associations between ASD and breastfeeding initiation (yes/no) and duration (months categorized in tertiles) in the Study to Explore Early Development, a community-based case-control study in six sites in the Unites States. We adjusted for various child and mother demographic and pregnancy factors. Breastfeeding initiation was reported in 85.7% of mothers of children with ASD and 90.6% of mothers of controls. After adjustment, we found no significant difference in breastfeeding initiation (adjusted odds-ratio [aOR]: 0.88 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-1.28). However, mothers of children with ASD were less likely to report duration of breastfeeding in the high (≥12 months) versus low tertile (<6 months) (aOR and 95% CI: 0.61 [0.45-0.84]) or the middle (6-<12 months) versus low tertile (0.72: 0.54-0.98). The association of ASD and breastfeeding duration was slightly attenuated when the presence of the broader autism phenotype (BAP) in the mother was accounted for, but still remained for the highest tertile. This association does not appear to be totally explained by maternal BAP. We were unable to distinguish whether the difference in duration was due to difficulties breastfeeding children who later develop ASD, other factors not adjusted in our study, or greater ASD risk resulting from shorter breastfeeding duration. Longitudinal studies that compare reasons why mothers stop breastfeeding between ASD and controls and establish a temporal relation between ASD and breastfeeding are needed. Future studies should also evaluate interactions between ASD risk genes and breastfeeding. Autism Res 2019, 12: 816-829.Lay Summary: In this study, we compared breastfeeding practices between mothers of children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We found that the percentage of mothers who started breastfeeding was similar between the two groups, but mothers of children with ASD breastfed for a shorter amount of time compared to mothers of children without ASD. Future studies are needed to evaluate the reasons why the duration of breastfeeding was shorter for mothers of children with ASD compared to those without ASD.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

et al. 2019

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“…However, the long‐term neurodevelopmental benefits of breastfeeding are still being studied. Some authors have observed positive results; however, others have not confirmed the neurodevelopmental benefits or the effects were small (Bar et al, ; Der, Batty, & Deary, ; von Stumm & Plomin, ; Yang et al, ). These differences could be explained by associated variables, such as the education and ethnicity of mothers, and family poverty, among others (Boucher et al, ; Der et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, breastfeeding has been associated with higher intelligence quotient during both periods (Prado & Dewey, 2014), and with fewer autistic traits (Boucher et al, 2017) and conduct disorders (Rochat et al, 2016). However, most of the literature is limited to people of European descent (Bar, Milanaik, & Adesman, 2016), and only a few studies have considered the relationship with complementary feeding (Prado & Dewey, 2014). Thus, the current study aimed to analyze the relationship between feeding during infancy and cognitive performance in schoolchildren of rural indigenous communities in Riobamba, Ecuador.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cognitive performance of indigenous schoolchildren in relation to their feeding during infancy

Cando

Diaz-Silva

Guerendiain

2019

American J Hum Biol

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Objectives Nutrition during the first 3 years of life is critical to neurodevelopment. Native populations experience poverty, inequality, and food insecurity. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between feeding during infancy and cognitive performance in schoolchildren of rural indigenous communities in Riobamba, Ecuador. Methods Thirty‐seven schoolchildren (5–6 years) were recruited. We determined duration of exclusive breastfeeding, weaning age, age of cow's milk incorporation, daily intake of cow's milk, age of solid and liquid incorporation, and sociocultural and anthropometric parameters. Verbal, manipulative, and total intelligence quotients were evaluated with Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Results Means of verbal, manipulative, and total intelligence quotient scores were 86.46 ± 11.55, 96.39 ± 9.96, and 89.25 ± 10.43, respectively. Children were exclusively breastfed until 6.83 ± 3.97 months and weaned at 17.17 ± 5.58 months. Age of cow's milk incorporation was 12.58 ± 6.06 months, with a daily intake of 737.50 ± 417.50 mL. Solids were incorporated at 10.11 ± 4.43 months and liquids at 7.72 ± 3.30 months. Positive associations between duration of exclusive breastfeeding and manipulative (unadjusted: ρ = .545, P = .006; r = .491, P = .028; adjusted for children's body mass index, and ethnicity and educational level of mothers: r = .522, P = .041) and total (unadjusted: ρ = .483, P = .017; adjusted: r = .572, P = .036) intelligence quotients were found. Frequency of children with manipulative (χ2[2] = 7.093, P = .029) and total (χ2[2] = 7.198, P = .027) intelligence quotient ≥90 was higher in those exclusively breastfed >6 months. Furthermore, schoolchildren in the >6 months group had better manipulative (101.75 ± 9.08 vs 89.71 ± 8.56, P = .038) and total (94.50 ± 11.89 vs 84.86 ± 5.05, P = .036) intelligence quotient than those in the <6 months group, independent of anthropometric and sociocultural factors. Conclusions Longer exclusive breastfeeding was related to better total intelligence quotient in rural indigenous schoolchildren.

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“…Consequently, WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommend that all mothers should breastfeed their children exclusively for the first 6 months and thereafter continue to breastfeed for as long as the mother and child desire, with appropriate and sufficient weaning food included after 6 months of life (2,3). EBF is associated with multiple benefits ranging from cognitive to physical development over the life course of the infant (6)(7)(8). This practice is essential for good child health in the short term given its associated lower incidence and severity of diarrhea, reduced respiratory tract infections and lower incidence of allergic diseases among children at-risk (9,10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

"Once the child is delivered, he is no more your baby," Exclusive Breastfeeding experiences of first-time mothers in Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Ghana - a qualitative study

Adda

Opoku-Mensah

Dako-Gyeke

2020

Preprint

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Background Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) is globally accepted as the preferred method for infant feeding. In Ghana, an estimated 84% of children < 2 months old are exclusively breastfed. But by age 4 to 5 months, only 49% continue to receive EBF. This situation continues to deteriorate. Thus, the need to explore perceptions, practices as well as factors that influence EBF in Ghana. Method Using a qualitative design, four focus group discussions were conducted among first-time mothers and eight in-depth interviews with health workers and traditional birth attendants. The study was conducted in four communities in the Kassena-Nankana municipality of Ghana. Discussions and interviews were recorded and later transcribed verbatim to English language. The transcribed data was then coded with the aid of analysis computer software (Nvivo version 10.0) and later analyzed for the generation of themes. Result Exclusive breastfeeding is practiced among first-time mothers due to its perceived benefits; which include nutritional advantage, ability to enhance growth whilst boosting immunity and its economic value. However misconceptions as well as, certain cultural practices (e.g. giving herbal concoctions, breastmilk purification rites), and relational influences, may threaten a mother’s intention to exclusively breastfeed. Relational influences are mainly from mother in-laws, traditional birth attendants, grandmothers, herbalists and other older adults in the community. Conclusion Although first time mothers attempt EBF, external influences make it practically challenging. The availabilty and utilization of information on EBF was found to positively influence perceptions towards EBF, leading to change in attitude towards the act. Recommendations The provision of education on EBF should be targeted to mothers during antenatal and postnatal clinics in order to help address misconceptions of EBF. Again, the practice of community based health services should be strengthened to provide support to first-time mothers as well as continuous education to the family and community leaders who influence decision making on breastfeeding of infants.

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Long-term neurodevelopmental benefits of breastfeeding

Cited by 128 publications

References 54 publications

Association Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

Association Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

The cognitive performance of indigenous schoolchildren in relation to their feeding during infancy

"Once the child is delivered, he is no more your baby," Exclusive Breastfeeding experiences of first-time mothers in Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Ghana - a qualitative study

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