Increased Breastfeeding Proportion Is Associated with Improved Gross Motor Skills at 3-5 Years of Age: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Human Lactation

Background:

• Breast milk is crucial for infant neurodevelopment.
• Maternal nutrition may further enhance psychomotor outcomes.
• The link between breast milk composition and long-term neurodevelopment requires further study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between breastfeeding extent and breast milk nutrients with psychomotor outcomes at school age.
• To assess the impact of maternal nutrition on child neurodevelopment.
• To explore the role of specific vitamins and carotenoids in breast milk for cognitive and motor development.

Main Methods:

• Observational cohort pilot study of 33 newborns.
• Recorded breastfeeding proportion at 3 months and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3-5 years.
• Used Spearman correlation, controlling for parental education and income, to analyze associations. Measured Vitamin E and carotenoid levels in breast milk samples.

Main Results:

• Positive correlation found between motor skill scores and breast milk levels of alpha-tocopherol, translutein, total lutein, and zeaxanthin, after adjusting for parental factors.
• Problem-solving skills showed a negative correlation with the RSR enantiomer of alpha-tocopherol.
• Increased breastfeeding exposure was associated with enhanced gross motor and problem-solving skills.

Conclusions:

• Breastfeeding duration and specific nutrients in breast milk, including alpha-tocopherol, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are associated with improved psychomotor development.
• Maternal nutrition and breast milk composition may play a significant role in long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Further research into the neuroprotective potential of these nutrients is warranted.