[pronut-hiv] BBC: Breastfeeding 'helps to boost IQ'

["ProNut-HIV" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7385097.stm

More evidence is being put forward that breastfed babies eventually
become more intelligent than those who are fed with formula milk. 
Canada's McGill University found breastfed babies ended up performing
better in IQ tests by the age of six.  But the researchers were unsure
whether it was related to the breast milk itself or the bond from
breastfeeding. 

The study of nearly 14,000 children is the latest in a series of
reports to have found such a positive link. 
However, one problem has been that some of the research has struggled
to identify whether the findings were related to the fact that mothers
from more affluent backgrounds were more likely to breastfeed and it was
factors related to the family circumstances that was really influencing
intelligence. 

But the latest study attempted to take this into account by following
the progress of children born in hospitals in Belarus, some of which ran
breastfeeding promotion schemes to boost rates across all groups. 
They found that those who breastfed exclusively for the first three
months - with many also continuing to 12 months - scored an average of
5.9 points higher on IQ tests in childhood.
 
Teachers also rated these children significantly higher academically
than control children in both reading and writing, the Archives of
General Psychiatry reported. 

Lead researcher Professor Michael Kramer said: "Long-term, exclusive
breastfeeding appears to improve children's cognitive development." 
But he added: "Even though the treatment difference appears causal, it
remains unclear whether the observed cognitive benefits of breastfeeding
are due to some constituents of breast milk or are related to the
physical and social interactions inherent in breastfeeding." 
Changes Fatty acids found in breast milk are thought to boost intelligence, but the report said the physical and emotional aspect of breastfeeding may
lead to permanent changes to brain development. 

The researchers also suggested breastfeeding may increase verbal
interaction between mother and child, which in turn could aid their
development. 

Nonetheless Professor Kramer said more efforts should be made to
promote breastfeeding. 
In England, the government recommends mothers breastfeed for the first
six months. 

But research shows while three quarters start off breastfeeding, just
one in four are still doing it by six months. 
Rosie Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "This research
certainly increases the evidence about the impact of breastfeeding. 
"And I think what we now need is more effort put into supporting it."