Impact of Infant Feeding Methods on the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

There is strong and convincing evidence that infant's sensory stimulation, which is associated with breastfeeding, contributes significantly to the infant's neurodevelopment. Our study compared the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children who were breastfed, given breast milk through a bottle (breast-milk fed), or formula-fed. We reported significant association of ASD in children who were formula-fed from birth or weaned early from the breast. The statistical data revealed that increasing the duration of breastfeeding resulted in a decrease in prevalence of ASD. The odds ratio of a child not having autism was 0.27, 0.93, and 6.67 for breastfeeding for less than 6, 6-12, or longer than 12 months, respectively. There is significant evidence that this association is mediated by the ingredients of the breast milk and infant's endogenous oxytocin. Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator and we postulate that oxytocin may increase neuroplasticity, synaptic connections, and alter ASD genes' expression. Animal experiments and imaging studies demonstrate the central role of oxytocin in maternal love and bonding. Currently, there are no specific treatments for patients diagnosed with autism; therefore, it is imperative to identify the risk factors that contribute to the development of ASD. In this communication, we demonstrate that lack of breastfeeding is highly associated with ASD development in children with genetic susceptibility.

Association Between Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children Enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

“…In line with other studies [Al‐Farsi et al, ; Bittker & Bell, ; Boucher et al, ; Lemcke et al, ; Shafai et al, ], we documented a shorter duration of breastfeeding in children with ASD versus controls, independent of sociodemographic and pregnancy factors. As we have acknowledged in the introduction, the meaning of this shorter breastfeeding duration in children with ASD versus controls is not clearly understood.…”

“…Past studies have reported inconsistent findings on the relationship between ASD and breastfeeding [Hong, Ziegler, & Brody, ; Tseng et al, ]. Most studies found lower breastfeeding initiation or shorter duration in children with ASD versus children without ASD, suggesting a possible protective effect of breastfeeding [Al‐Farsi et al, ; Bittker & Bell, ; Boucher et al, ; Brown, Austin, & Busija, ; George, Padman, Nair, Leena, & Russell, ; Johnson et al, ; Lemcke, Parner, Bjerrum, Thomsen, & Lauritsen, ; Ravi, Chandrasekaran, Kattimani, & Subramanian, ; Say, Karabekiroğlu, Babadağı, & Yüce, ; Schultz et al, ; Shafai, Mustafa, Hild, Mulari, & Curtis, ; Tseng et al, ]. Likewise, a recent meta‐analysis of seven studies, some of which were cited above, documented an overall significantly lower breastfeeding initiation in children with ASD versus those without ASD.…”

Guts Imbalance Imbalances the Brain: A Review of Gut Microbiota Association With Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

“…Some studies show that the maternal microbial luggage modulates later neurological development. For instance, breastfed infants for more than 6 months are associated with a diminished risk of ASD development ( 159 ), while infants fed from birth with breast milk through a bottle or formula-fed infants are predisposed to neurological and behavioral changes associated with ASD development ( 160 ). Besides, maternal lifestyle and habits like smoking, alcohol abuse, drug consumption, and HFD during pregnancy induce changes in the offspring’s microbiota and their later social behavior ( 148 , 161 – 164 ) ( Supplementary Table 1 ).…”

The Influence of Breastfeeding and the Infant’s Social Environment on Neuroplasticity and Brain Development: The First 1000 Days

“…In our previous study we reported on the impact of the infant feeding methods on the development of the autism spectrum disorder [32,33]. With the current study we are able to predict that breastfeeding longer than 1 year is associated with higher CSBS DP score and lower risk of developmental delays.…”

“…Approximately 50 years ago, Dr. Julius Richmond, who was my first pediatrics professor and later became US Surgeon General, characterized that child development is the basic science of pediatrics [33]. This statement is still true now, because of the ever increasing knowledge accumulated in the past 2 decades on child development.…”