Breastfeeding and Higher IQ Link Questioned

Ivanhoe Newswire
Thursday, November 9, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding may have little to do with better verbal skills during preschool years, according to a new study.

A number of studies have linked breastfeeding with higher childhood IQ scores. These studies connected this finding to certain fatty acids found in breast milk. However, researchers from Duke University in Durham, N.C., report their new study reveals an increased IQ is not solely because of breast milk.

For the study, researchers gave 1,645 3-year-olds and their mothers a vocabulary test. The tests were scored according to their age. Researchers also visited the homes and rated the home environment.

Researchers report children who were breastfed for at least one month scored seven points higher than bottle fed children. But when the researchers factored in the mother's scores, the difference disappeared. Researchers report this shows the advantageous effects of breastfeeding are not just because of the nutrients in breast milk, but positive parenting skills also play a role. Study authors write mothers who breastfed tend to be better educated, and so they may be more likely to do stimulating activities for their children.

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SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2006;118:1444-1451