Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Academic Outcomes

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Objective. This study examines the associations between duration of breastfeeding and childhood cognitive ability and academic achievement over the period from 8 to 18 years using data collected during the course of an 18-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of >1000 New Zealand children.Method. During the period from birth to age 1 year, information was collected on maternal breastfeeding practices. Over the period from 8 to 18 years, sample members were assessed on a range of measures of cognitive and academic outcomes including measures of child intelligence quotient; teacher ratings of school performance; standardized tests of reading comprehension, mathematics, and scholastic ability; pass rates in school leaving examinations; and leaving school without qualifications.Results. Increasing duration of breastfeeding was associated with consistent and statistically significant increases in 1) intelligence quotient assessed at ages 8 and 9 years; 2) reading comprehension, mathematical ability, and scholastic ability assessed during the period from 10 to 13 years; 3) teacher ratings of reading and mathematics assessed at 8 and 12 years; and 4) higher levels of attainment in school leaving examinations. Children who were breastfed for >8 months had mean test scores that were between 0.35 and 0.59 SD units higher than children who were bottle-fed.Mothers who elected to breastfeed tended to be older; better educated; from upper socioeconomic status families; were in a two-parent family; did not smoke during pregnancy; and experienced above average income and living standards. Additionally, rates of breastfeeding increased with increasing birth weight, and first-born children were more likely to be breastfed.Regression adjustment for maternal and other factors associated with breastfeeding reduced the associations between breastfeeding and cognitive or educational outcomes. Nonetheless, in 10 of the 12 models, fitted duration of breastfeeding remained a significant predictor of later cognitive or educational outcomes. After adjustment for confounding factors, children who were breastfed for >8 months had mean test scores that were between 0.11 and 0.30 SD units higher than those not breastfed.Conclusions. It is concluded that breastfeeding is associated with small but detectable increases in child cognitive ability and educational achievement. These effects are 1) pervasive, being reflected in a range of measures including standardized tests, teacher ratings, and academic outcomes in high school; and 2) relatively longlived, extending throughout childhood into young adulthood. Pediatrics 1998;101(1). URL: http://www.pediatrics. org/cgi/content/full/101/1/e9; breastfeeding, cognitive ability, academic achievement, longitudinal study.ABBREVIATIONS. DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; WISC-R, Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; IQ, intelligence quotient.

Prevalence and associated factors for early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding: meta-analysis on Brazilian epidemiological studies

“…39,40 Thus, It can be considered that the EBF may effect in later life, as noted in a meta-analysis reported that breastfeeding decreased by 26% (CI95%: 22-30) the chance of overweight/obesity and checked protective action for diabetes type 2, 39 and in the studies of adult intelligence and school performance show evidence of positive effects of EBF on these abilities. 41,42 The same was observed in a cohort study conducted in Brazil, which show that the more enduring the period of breastfeeding in infancy, the higher the levels of intelligence and an average income in adulthood to 30 years. 42 The positive aspects of EBF involving the parent woman establish interface with acceleration of postpartum weight loss, reduce incidence of anemia and reduces the chance of developing breast, ovary and endometrial cancer, as well as osteoporosis.…”

Fatores interferentes na alimentação de crianças de 17 a 25 meses de uma creche municipal

“…A sucção desempenha importante papel, possibilitando desenvolvimento adequado das funções de respiração, mastigação, deglutição e fala, reduzindo a probabilidade de ocorrência de alterações fonoaudiológicas [3][4][5] . Outro benefício demonstrado na literatura referese à habilidade cognitiva e o desempenho escolar, uma vez que a duração crescente da amamentação natural foi associada ao aumento estatisticamente significante no quociente de inteligência, compreensão da leitura, da matemática e outras habilidades escolares 6 . Em alguns casos o aleitamento materno exclusivo pode estar prejudicado como em recém nascido pré-termo (RNPT), em que ocorre, especificamente, uma imaturidade global, incluindo o sistema estomatognático, que dificulta a realização da função de sucção e, consequentemente, a alimentação por via oral [7][8][9][10][11] .…”

The role and potential of sialic acid in human nutrition

“…After control of confounding variables, there was a significant advantage to breast-fed children on a picture vocabulary test at 8 y of age and on nonverbal ability, mathematics, and sentence completion at 15 y. A few studies have examined reading ability or school attainment, and breast-fed children tended to do better (Ounsted et al, 1984;Rogan & Gladen, 1993;Horwood & Fergusson, 1998). The most recent follow-up study in a New Zealand cohort of 1000 children reported that breastfeeding is associated with small but detectable increases in cognitive ability and academic achievement, extending from 8 to 18 y (Horwood & Fergusson, 1998).…”

“…A few studies have examined reading ability or school attainment, and breast-fed children tended to do better (Ounsted et al, 1984;Rogan & Gladen, 1993;Horwood & Fergusson, 1998). The most recent follow-up study in a New Zealand cohort of 1000 children reported that breastfeeding is associated with small but detectable increases in cognitive ability and academic achievement, extending from 8 to 18 y (Horwood & Fergusson, 1998). The difference was significant after adjustment for social and family history, including maternal age, education, social economic status, marital status, smoking during pregnancy, family living conditions, and family income, and perinatal factors, including gender, birth weight, child's estimated gestational age, and birth order in the family.…”