Previous studies showed that babies who were breastfed for the first 6 months of life had a higher IQ than equally healthy non-breastfed babies. This fact coupled with the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding helped to keep mom's nursing through 6 months.
But a new study from Great Britain says otherwise. The study, which looked at breastfeeding and IQ in more than 5,000 children, found no difference in intelligence between breastfed and non-breastfed infants. The results were published this month in the British Medical Journal.
To examine the relationship between breastfeeding and intelligence researchers looked at IQ scores of children and compared them to the mother's intelligence and history of breastfeeding. Sibling sets were also used in this study to compare any differences, especially if one was breastfed and the other not.
They found no direct effect of breastfeeding on IQ, and instead believe that previous studies saw the increase in IQ because of the mother's educational background. Because they also looked at mother's intelligence, they found that was the missing variable in other studies, and when you did not account for it, the effect (of breastfeeding) was amplified.
When looking at siblings, they found no difference in IQ between those who were breastfed and not, which would have been evident if breastfeeding was a major variable in determining intelligence.
Whether or not one decides to dismiss the notion that breastfeeding improves intelligence, this study will prompt a review of past evidence. Healthcare providers may continue to list increased intelligence as a benefit of breast feeding, along with decrease infection, improved immune function, and decreased incidence of obesity and heart disease.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on October 6, 2006 03:36 PM
