Dear Mums,
This finding in what is known to be the largest randomised study trial on human lactation might be interesting for you all and also, spur breastfeeding mothers on! Have a read.. =)
In a report published in May 5 in the Archives of General Psychiatry:
The study subjects were 17,046 healthy infants enrolled at 31 maternity hospitals and clinics in the Republic of Belarus in 1996-1997, of whom 13,889 were assessed again at age 6.5 years and this is reported as the largest randomized trial ever conducted in human lactation.
Exclusive breast-feeding for 3 to less than 6 months was associated with a mean verbal IQ higher by 4.7 points than that seen with exclusive breast-feeding for less than 3 months. Exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months or more was associated with a mean increase of 5.2 points.
For performance IQ, the mean effects were 1.2 points for 3 to less than 6 months of exclusive breast-feeding and 2.1 points for 6 months or more. Similarly, the mean effects for full-scale IQ were 3.3 points and 4.2 points, respectively, Dr. Kramer and his associates said.
“Because protection against infections in developed country settings does not have the life-and-death implications for infant and child health that it does in less-developed settings, cognitive benefits may be among the most important advantages for breastfed infants in industrialized societies,” they added.
BREASTMILK IS STILL BEST!!!