Breastfeeding, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Colostrum, and Infant Mental Development

Citation

Guxens, Monica; Mendez, Michelle A.; Molto-Puigmarti, Carolina; Julvez, Jordi; Garcia-Esteban, Raquel; Forns, Joan; Ferrer, Muriel; Vrijheid, Martine; Lopez-Sabater, M. Carmen; & Sunyer, Jordi (2011). Breastfeeding, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Colostrum, and Infant Mental Development. Pediatrics, 128(4), e880-9.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding has been associated with improved neurodevelopment in children. However, it remains unknown to what extent nutritional advantages of breast milk may explain this relationship.
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the role of parental psychosocial factors and colostrum long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) levels in the relationship between breastfeeding and children's neurodevelopment.
METHODS: A population-based birth cohort was established in the city of Sabadell (Catalonia, Spain) as part of the INMA-INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project. A total of 657 women were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy. Information about parental characteristics and breastfeeding was obtained by using a questionnaire, and trained psychologists assessed mental and psychomotor development by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development in 504 children at 14 months of age.
RESULTS: A high percentage of breastfeeds among all milk feeds accumulated during the first 14 months was positively related with child mental development (0.37 points per month of full breastfeeding [95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.67]). Maternal education, social class, and intelligence quotient only partly explained this association. Children with a longer duration of breastfeeding also exposed to higher ratios between n-3 and n-6 PUFAs in colostrum had significantly higher mental scores than children with low breastfeeding duration exposed to low levels
CONCLUSIONS: Greater levels of accumulated breastfeeding during the first year of life were related to higher mental development at 14 months, largely independently from a wide range of parental psychosocial factors. LC-PUFA levels seem to play a beneficial role in children's mental development when breastfeeding levels are high.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1633

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2011

Journal Title

Pediatrics

Author(s)

Guxens, Monica
Mendez, Michelle A.
Molto-Puigmarti, Carolina
Julvez, Jordi
Garcia-Esteban, Raquel
Forns, Joan
Ferrer, Muriel
Vrijheid, Martine
Lopez-Sabater, M. Carmen
Sunyer, Jordi