Breast-feeding and cognitive development: a meta-analysis

Anderson, James W.; Johnstone, Bryan M.; Remley, Daniel T

doi:10.1093/ajcn/70.4.525

Cited by 1,058 publications

(766 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…On the other hand, breastfed children did not perform significantly better, as observed in previous studies in populations exposed to less contaminant (Anderson et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Breastfeeding is also associated with an advantage in subsequent mental development, as indicated by global neurological and cognitive development. Thus, a meta-analysis (Anderson et al, 1999) adjusted for appropriate key cofactors, such as maternal intelligence and birth weight, showed an adjusted benefit of 3.16 IQ points for breastfed compared with formula-fed children. The differences in IQ among breastfed and formula fed children were observed across all age categories from 6 months to 15 years of age, but children with low birth weight exhibited larger benefits (Anderson et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, a meta-analysis (Anderson et al, 1999) adjusted for appropriate key cofactors, such as maternal intelligence and birth weight, showed an adjusted benefit of 3.16 IQ points for breastfed compared with formula-fed children. The differences in IQ among breastfed and formula fed children were observed across all age categories from 6 months to 15 years of age, but children with low birth weight exhibited larger benefits (Anderson et al, 1999). Among the essential nutrients in human milk of particular importance for brain development, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to be of special relevance, especially docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid (Carlson, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of breast feeding on neuropsychological development in a community with methylmercury exposure from seafood

Jensen

Grandjean

Jørgensen

et al. 2005

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Breastfeeding has been associated with an advantage to infant neurobehavioral development, possibly in part due to essential nutrients in breast milk. However, breast milk may be contaminated by environmental neurotoxicants, such as methylmercury. In the Faroe Islands, where maternal consumption of pilot whale may cause transfer of marine toxicants into breast milk, a cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1986-87. Methylmercury exposure was assessed from mercury concentrations in cord blood and in the hair of the child at age 12 months, and the duration of breastfeeding was recorded. At approximately 7 years of age, 917 (90%) of the children underwent detailed neurobehavioral examination. After adjustment for confounders, breastfeeding was associated with only marginally better neuropsychological performance on most tests. These associations were robust even after adjustment for cord-blood and hair mercury concentration at age 1 year. Thus, in this cohort of children with a relatively high prenatal toxicant exposure and potential exposure to neurotoxicants through breast milk, breastfeeding was associated with less benefits on neurobehavioral development than previously published studies though not associated with a deficit in neuropsychological performance at age 7. Although the advantage may be less, Faroese women can still safely breastfeed their children.

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“…On the other hand, breastfed children did not perform significantly better, as observed in previous studies in populations exposed to less contaminant (Anderson et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of breast feeding on neuropsychological development in a community with methylmercury exposure from seafood

Jensen

Grandjean

Jørgensen

et al. 2005

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Numerous studies have touted the benefits on fetal and infant development from dietary ω-3 FA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. These benefits include enhanced fetal and infant brain development [2,8,23,40,[46][47][48] and a possible reduction in the incidence and severity of preterm births by prolonging gestational length [31,41,43].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced auditory acuity in rat pups from excess and deficient omega-3 fatty acid consumption by the mother

Church

Jen

Stafferton

et al. 2007

Neurotoxicology and Teratology

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Consumption of the nutrients omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) during pregnancy and lactation is considered beneficial to fetal and infant development. It may also reduce the incidence and severity of preterm births by prolonging gestational length. However several recent human and animal studies have reported that over-supplementation with ω-3 FA, especially in the form of fish oil, can have adverse effects on fetal and infant development and the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Our goal was to assess further the effects of ω-3 FA excess and deficiency during pregnancy and lactation on the offspring's auditory acuity as evidenced by their ABR thresholds. Female Wistar rats were given diets that were either deficient, adequate (control) or excess in ω-3 FA from day 1 of pregnancy through lactation. The offspring were ABR-tested at the postnatal age of 24 days. The rat pups in the Excess treatment condition had significantly elevated (worse) ABR thresholds, postnatal growth restriction, and a trend for increased postnatal mortality in comparison to the Control group. The Deficient group was intermediate. In conclusion, excess or deficient amounts of ω-3 FA during pregnancy and lactation in the laboratory rat adversely affected the offspring's auditory acuity. Postnatal thriving was also adversely affected. Consuming or administering large or inadequate amounts of ω-3 FA during pregnancy and lactation seems inadvisable because of the potential for adverse effects on infant development.

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“…There are various known benefits of BF (Brown et al, 1989;Popkin et al, 1990;Victora et al, 1994;Heinig & Dewey, 1996;Labbok et al, 1997;Pérez-Escamilla, 1997;Anderson et al, 1999;Labbok, 1999), which make these high rates desirable. Breast milk provides nutrients to meet growth needs (Cohen et al, 1994;Dewey et al, 1999;Simondon and Simondon, 1997) and several immunological factors to protect against infections and subsequent mortality (Beaudry et al, 1995;Raisler et al, 1999;Kramer et al, 2001;WHO, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Accra, Ghana

et al. 2005

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Objective: To assess factors associated with exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) in Accra, Ghana. Design, subjects, setting: Data on current and past infant feeding patterns, sociodemographic, biomedical and biocultural factors were collected using a cross-sectional design, from a sample of 376 women with infants 0-6 months, attending maternal and child health (MCH) clinics in Accra. EBF was defined in two ways: (a) based on a 24-h recall, and (b) based on a recall of liquids or foods given since birth. Results: Although 99.7% of mothers were currently breastfeeding (BF), only half (51.6%) of them EBF their infants. About 98% of participants had heard about EBF, and 85.6% of them planned to EBF on delivery. Based on 'since birth' EBF, planned EBF on delivery was associated with higher likelihood of EBF (OR ¼ 2.56; 95% CI, 1.06-6.17) and delivery at a hospital/polyclinic was associated with a two times higher likelihood of EBF (OR ¼ 1.96; 95% CI, 1.08-3.54). Women living in their own houses were more likely to EBF (OR ¼ 3.96; 95% CI, 1.02-15.49) than those living in rented accommodations and family houses. Those with a more positive attitude towards EBF were more likely to EBF (OR ¼ 2.0; 95% CI, 1.11-3.57) than their counterparts with more negative attitudes. The '24-h recall' EBF model yielded similar results.

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Breast-feeding and cognitive development: a meta-analysis

Abstract: This meta-analysis indicated that, after adjustment for appropriate key cofactors, breast-feeding was associated with significantly higher scores for cognitive development than was formula feeding.

Cited by 1,058 publications

References 53 publications

Effects of breast feeding on neuropsychological development in a community with methylmercury exposure from seafood

Effects of breast feeding on neuropsychological development in a community with methylmercury exposure from seafood

Reduced auditory acuity in rat pups from excess and deficient omega-3 fatty acid consumption by the mother

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Accra, Ghana

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