Much research has been done surrounding breastfeeding verses formula feeding practices on cognition. Studies that differentiate between part-time breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding tend to find differences in the cognitive development of babies based on the type of nutrition they receive in early life. Regardless of type of formula or fatty acid supplementation, breastfed infants seem to maintain some advantages over formula-fed children in cognitive, visual and linguistic development.
Soy Formula, Milk-Based Formulas and Breast MIlk
Research by the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center notes that soy and milk-based formulas may not differ significantly in their ability to provide nutrition that allows for proper cognitive development. In this study published in the journal "Pediatrics" in 2012, soy formula and milk-based formulas were compared to assess developmental measures including those related to cognition, motor skills and language to see if infants benefited more significantly from one type of formula. While researchers found that neither provided more benefit to infants, they did find that breastfed babies scored higher on cognitive measures when compared to either formula-fed group.
Visual and Cognitive Development
Research published in the Italian journal "Nutrition and Health" in 2001 reports that the fatty acid profile of human breast milk may allow for increased cognitive and visual development. Authors noted that babies who were formula fed scored lower on neurodevelopment tests as well as visual performance tests when compared to their breastfed counterparts. Researchers found a lower presence of arachidonic acid (LCPUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in formula-fed infants, leading them to attribute the lower test scores to the lower levels of brain building fats in infant formula.
Linguistic Development
According to University of Louisville researchers, cognition as well as linguistic development may be effected by formula feeding. Published in the journal "Developmental Neuropsychology" in 2007, researchers used scalp electrodes and behavioral observation to determine if children were able to differentiate between sounds of speech. They found that breastfed infants process sounds and speech patterns differently than formula-fed children across both brain hemispheres, and differentiate more speech-related sounds than formula-fed infants. Researchers concluded that breastfed infants may have advantages in linguistic development and later speech as well as general cognitive advantages.
Fatty Acid Supplementation and Formula Feeding
Researchers from the Netherlands undertook a study to find out if supplementation of fatty acids could improve performance in formula-fed infants. This 2012 research published in "Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology" looked at three groups of children -- 159 breastfed, 169 standard formula-fed, and 146 formula-fed plus LCPUFA supplementation -- to examine differences in cognitive development over the next nine years of life. Researchers confirmed that breastfed individuals outperform formula-fed children on IQ tests up to the nine-year mark; however, they found no consistent benefits of LCPUFA supplementation. While research into the dynamics involved in these results is ongoing, cognitive development in formula-fed children remains lower than breastfed babies regardless of type of formula or additional supplementation.
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