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Breast feeding and children's intelligence

D L Johnson1, P R Swank, V M Howie

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX 77204-5341, USA.

Psychological Reports
|December 1, 1996
PubMed
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Breastfeeding benefits children of normal birth weight, enhancing intelligence scores. This study found a 4.6-point increase in intelligence for breastfed children, even after controlling for environmental factors and maternal intelligence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Previous research suggested breastfeeding benefits intelligence in low birth weight infants.
  • Studies on normal birth weight infants yielded mixed results due to limited environmental controls and intelligence measures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding and intelligence in normal birth weight children.
  • To control for environmental influences and maternal intelligence in assessing breastfeeding's impact.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 204 three-year-old children of normal birth weight.
  • Controlled for environmental factors using Hollings-head socioeconomic status, Home Observation for the Measured Environment, and Shipley.
  • Assessed child intelligence using Stanford-Binet Fourth Edition and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised.

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Main Results:

  • Breastfeeding initiation was a significant predictor of intelligence scores at age three.
  • Breastfed children scored 4.6 points higher on average on intelligence tests.
  • These findings held after controlling for environmental variables and maternal intelligence.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding is associated with enhanced cognitive development in children of normal birth weight.
  • Controlling for environmental and genetic factors strengthens the evidence for breastfeeding's positive impact on intelligence.
  • Further research may explore specific mechanisms through which breastfeeding influences cognitive outcomes.