Breastfeeding Does Not Improve A Child's IQ

Breastfeeding does not improve a child's intelligence, despite the widespread belief that "breast is best" for IQ, according to a new study.

Scientists who conducted research on 11,000 British children found no reliable association between breastfeeding and higher IQ at age two.

Nor was breastfeeding related to improvements in intelligence as children grew up.

Previous studies have suggested a link between higher IQs and being breastfed. But there has been debate about whether such findings are skewed by the fact that those from less deprived groups are more likely to breastfeed.

The new research from Goldsmiths, University of London used data from the Twins Early Development Study.

The research project was set up to attempt to disentangle the impact of “nature and nurture” on children, involving identical twins, who share all the same genes, and non-identical twins.

Breastfeeding was associated with a small IQ advantage for girls at age two, but by 16 this had disappeared.

Writing in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, the scientists concluded: "Breastfeeding has little benefit for early life intelligence and cognitive growth from toddlerhood through adolescence."

Study co-leader Dr Sophie von Stumm, from Goldsmiths, University of London, said: "Many researchers have previously investigated whether being breastfed in early life benefits IQ.

“However, few of the earlier studies have employed strong research designs that produce reliable results.

"Children - and adults - differ in their cognitive abilities, and it is important to identify factors that give rise to these differences. But comparatively small events like breastfeeding are very unlikely to be at the core of something as big and complex as children's differences in IQ.

“Instead, children's IQ differences are better explained by long-term factors, for example, children's family background and their schooling,” she said.

Researchers stressed that breastfeeding has other benefits – such as helping to build a child's immune system.

However Dr von Stumm said: "That said, mothers should be aware that they are not harming their child if they choose not to, or cannot, breastfeed. Being bottle fed as an infant won't cost your child a chance at a university degree later in life."

Britain has the lowest breastfeeding rates in Western Europe   Photo: ALAMY

Previous studies have suggested a link between breastfeeding and intelligence.

Brazilian researchers who traced nearly 3,500 babies found that those who had been breastfed for longer went on to gain better scores in adult IQ tests.

Janet Fyle, from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said: "This is another research report among many studies on breastfeeding and child outcomes. While this study adds to an already existing body of knowledge about breastfeeding, our advice remains the same, breastfeeding has many positive benefits for a child's health and well-being in both the short and longer term.”

Alison Burton, maternity and early years lead at Public Health England, said: "As the authors confirm, breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for babies and helps protect against infections. PHE's advice is to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. We recognise that not all mothers are able to breastfeed and infant formula is the only alternative to breast milk for babies under 12 months old."

By Laura Donnelly, Health Editor

telepgraph.co.uk

*I totally agree cos i have run into very very intelligent children who did not get breast milk and i was amazed cos this was my thinking as well.