Developmental Status of 1-Year-Old Infants Fed Breast Milk, Cow’s Milk Formula, or Soy Formula

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although soy formula has been reported to support normal development, concerns exist regarding potential adverse developmental effects of phytochemicals associated with soy protein. This study characterized developmental status (mental, motor, and language) of breastfed (BF), milk-based formula–fed (MF), or soy protein–based formula–fed (SF) infants during the first year of life. METHODS: Healthy infants (N = 391) were assessed longitudinally at ages 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Development was evaluated by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Preschool Language Scale-3. Mixed effects models were used while adjusting for socioeconomic status, mother’s age and IQ, gestational age, gender, birth weight, head circumference, race, age, and diet history. RESULTS: No differences were found between formula-fed infants (MF versus SF). BF infants scored slightly higher than formula-fed infants on the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) score at ages 6 and 12 months (P < .05). Infants who were breastfed also had higher Psychomotor Development Index scores than SF infants at age 6 months and slightly higher Preschool Language Scale-3 scores than MF infants at ages 3 and 6 months (P < .05). In addition, BF infants had a lower probability to score within the lower MDI quartile compared with MF infants and a higher likelihood to score within the upper quartile for the MDI and Psychomotor Development Index compared with SF infants. CONCLUSIONS: This unique study showed that all scores on developmental testing were within established normal ranges and that MF and SF groups did not differ significantly. Furthermore, this study demonstrated a slight advantage of BF infants on cognitive development compared with formula-fed infants.

Fatores associados à falta de diversidade alimentar no segundo semestre de vida

“…Outro achado foi o consumo de outros leites e de mingau por mais de um terço das crianças amamentadas, prática questionável, pois o leite materno provê, além dos nutrientes essenciais, uma ampla variedade de componentes bioativos não nutritivos que favorecem o crescimento infantil, de forma superior à composição das fórmulas infantis, que se limitam a sintetizar poucos componentes bioativos isolados 20 . As vantagens do leite materno não se limitam aos seus componentes nutricionais, como demonstrou um estudo longitudinal americano, no qual, ao final do primeiro ano de vida, crianças amamentadas obtiveram escores de desenvolvimento psicomotor, mental e de linguagem superiores aos daquelas alimentadas com fórmulas infantis à base de leite de vaca ou de soja 21 . Em Barra Mansa, o consumo de frutas (ou suco de frutas) foi observado em quase 85% das crianças, resultado similar ao encontrado no segundo semestre de vida em outras cidades do Sudeste brasileiro 8,22 , mas inferior ao elevado consumo (97%) em municípios do Nordeste 23 .…”

Factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices in a rural northern Nigerian setting

“…1 This recommendation has been proven to contribute to preventing infant under-nutrition; 2 foster neurocognitive development; 3 protect from infections like respiratory tract infections, otitis media, diarrhea, as well as diseases like diabetes mellitus, asthma and obesity in the child. 4,5 Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of breast cancer, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the mother and strengthens the emotional bond between the dyad.…”

Sex-specific association between infant diet and white matter integrity in 8-y-old children

“…However, better scores on standardized behavioral tests of infant development have been reported in breastfed (BF) than formula-fed (FF) fullterm infants (5). Positive associations between breastfeeding and higher intelligence quotient (IQ), better school performance, and greater neurocognitive development have been observed in numerous studies (6)(7)(8).…”