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Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants Fed Human Milk: A Systematic Review
Beatrice E Lechner1, Betty R Vohr1
1Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
Insights
Breast milk feeding benefits preterm infants' neurodevelopment, with effects lasting into adolescence. Key factors include feeding volume and specific milk components like fatty acids and oligosaccharides.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care and developmental pediatrics
- Neuroscience and human milk research
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental benefits of breast milk for preterm infants remain debated.
- Previous research indicates potential long-term cognitive advantages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sustained effects of breast milk on preterm infant neurodevelopment.
- To identify key factors influencing these neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on breast milk feeding in preterm infants.
- Analysis of neurodevelopmental assessments from infancy through adolescence.
Main Results:
- Breast milk feeding shows sustained positive effects on neurodevelopment into childhood and adolescence.
- Feeding volume and duration are critical factors.
- Human milk promotes structural brain development, including white matter and cortical thickness.
Conclusions:
- Breast milk is crucial for optimal neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
- Specific milk components like LC-PUFAs and HMOs may mediate cognitive benefits.
Abstract:
The neurodevelopmental benefits of breast milk feedings for preterm infants have been controversial. However, the effect on preterm infant neurodevelopment is sustained into childhood. The effects of breast milk feeding during the neonatal period and the duration of breastfeeding display effects on cognition into adolescence. The volume of breast milk received is a key factor in these effects. Additionally, emerging studies support the effects of human milk on structural brain development, such as increased white matter development and increased cortical thickness. The components of breast milk thought to mediate improved cognitive outcomes include long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and human milk oligosaccharides.
