Developmental assessments during the first 5 years of life in infants fed breast milk, cow's milk formula, or soy formula

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of infant feeding mode on childhood cognition and language as the differential effects of infant feeding on development remain understudied. Methods Breastfed [BF, 174], cow's milk‐based formula‐fed [MF, 169], or soy protein‐based formula‐fed [SF, 161] children were longitudinally tested from age 3 to 60 months for neurodevelopment. Data were analyzed using mixed models while adjusting for multiple covariates. Sex differences were also assessed. Results Standard scores were within established norms for all groups. There were no differences in mental development to age 24 months, yet BF children had significantly higher motor development scores at age 3 months than SF children (99.1 versus. 97.2). BF children had significantly higher composite intelligence scores at 48 months than MF and SF children (113.4 versus. 109.6 and 108.4, respectively) and higher verbal intelligence scores than SF children at 48 (105.6 versus. 100.7) and 60 months (109.8 versus. 105.9). Greater total language scores at ages 36 and 48 months were found in BF children compared with children fed MF or SF ( p < .001), with differences between sexes for auditory comprehension. Higher total language scores at age 60 months were found between BF and SF (105.0 versus. 100.1). Conclusion Breastfeeding was associated with small, statistically significant, differences between children ages 3 and 5 years in verbal intelligence, expressive communication, and auditory comprehension with the latter having potential sexual dimorphic effects. Yet, these differences remain small and may not be of clinical relevance. Overall, MF and SF did not significantly differ.

Early Environmental and Biological Influences on Preschool Motor Skills: Implications for Early Childhood Care and Education

“…For the rest of the motor skills analyzed, there were no statistically significant differences found. These results are distinct from those of Bellando et al (2020) and Michels et al (2017), who did not find any effect of feeding type on motor skills beyond the 3 first months of life. Our results are along the lines of those of Jardí et al (2018) and Kádár et al (2021) since we found that the influence of infant feeding type on motor skills continue for longer periods of time.…”

“…Moreover, studies analyzing the effects beyond 3 years are even more few. Bellando et al (2020) found that, at the age of 3 months, breastfed infants displayed better motor development than formula-fed infants. However, at 12 and 24 months, no differences were found between both groups.…”

The prevalence and clinical relevance of hyperhomocysteinemia suggesting vitamin B12 deficiency in presumed healthy infants

“…By contrast, our data suggested an almost equal effect of total months of breastfeeding compared to formula/mixed with breastfeeding on both tHcy-and B12 levels in a dose-responsive way. Feeding practices were not directly associated with psychomotor test results, as opposed to findings in other studies 31,32 showing breastfeeding to be associated with better outcome in psychomotor tests. As our study was not designed for this outcome our inconsistent findings should be interpreted with caution.…”

Effect of Food Endotoxin on Infant Health

“…In infancy, the intestinal bacterial colonization of the newborn will determine whether the baby can maintain their health while growing up. Compared with infant formula and soybean milk, breastfed infants have better neurodevelopment characteristics, motor development, and language development [ 67 ]. The colonization of intestinal flora in breastfed infants is significantly different from that in formula-fed infants [ 68 ].…”