Breastfeeding Linked to Improved School Performance

A new study suggests that breastfeeding may be linked to improved academic performance compared to formula feeding.

Several earlier studies support this finding, but have not clearly proved that breastfeeding actually causes an increase in intelligence. For example, it is possible that mothers who breastfeed may be more educated or be more likely to engage in other behaviors that promote intelligence.  

In this latest study, researchers examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which surveyed high school students and their parents. The study included 191 sibling pairs, in which one had been breastfed, while the other had been formula fed. Comparing siblings helped control other factors, such as family environment and parents’ intelligence, which may contribute to academic performance.

The authors found that between siblings, breastfed infants had a 12-14 percent higher grade point average (GPA) during high school and were slightly more likely to attend college than their formula-fed siblings. Both GPA and likelihood of attending college appeared to increase with each additional month of breastfeeding.

However, more research is needed to fully understand how breastfeeding affects cognitive function later in life.

Other evidence suggests that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections (especially lung infections, ear infections, and diarrhea) during their first year of life than babies who are fed formulas. This is because the mother's breast milk contains important antibodies, enzymes, fats and proteins that help boost the baby's immune system. Although baby formulas contain all of the important vitamins and nutrients a growing baby needs, manufacturers have not been able to replicate all of the components in breast milk. Formulas lack antibodies and are more difficult for newborns to digest.

For more information about breastfeeding, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Comments

[jamie]

This finding, which suggests a stronger link between breastfeeding and intelligence, is interesting, but I wonder about the sample size. Natural Standard reported on a similar study two years ago with a much larger sample that looked at data on 5,475 children from 3,161 mothers. (It would seem that there must have been siblings here, too!) This earlier study found no connection between breastfeeding and intelligence.
I would also be concerned for women who cannot breastfeed that this new information would create anxiety at an already stressful time. Environment and nurturing cannot be discounted as a large part of child development.

[RogueTangent]

It's interesting how this article was posted. My friend and I were randomly discussing the benefits of breastfeeding when the topic came up on a radio discussion. In school, we often learn about how breastfeeding, even if for a short period of time, can provide significant benefits for a baby. Although I may be completely off, I feel like the general population underestimates the benefits of breastfeeding.

[Healthy Body]

Wow, it’s amazing how much of an effect breastfeeding can have on the baby. Breastfeeding offers so much more than just disease-fighting antibodies. Mothers who breastfeed may save on money since formulas can be expensive. It is also better for the environment because there is no trash and plastic waste associated with it. Also, if a mother’s milk has so many disease-fighting cells, then that probably means her baby will be less likely to visit the doctor due to illnesses.

[G.Fold]

There are some pretty good reasons why some women do not breastfeed. Having an illness or being separated from the infant are just two. Still, some reasons are avoidable. Some women have a physically difficult time breastfeeding or attach personal beliefs to it. I wonder if better breastfeeding education in hospitals would encourage more women to breastfeed rather than use formula.

[P.K.]

I’ve heard that in some hospitals, women who have just given birth are given formula. Formula companies give away free products in the hopes that women will start using their products rather than breastfeed or use a competitor’s product. Given the possible cognitive and health risks of formula, perhaps this practice is unethical. Has anyone else heard of this happening?

[Sarah H.]

It seems like one way to make breastfeeding easier for women is to allow them to do it in public. The idea that women cannot feed their baby unless they are in a private place is personally distasteful to me. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, 43 states allow women to breastfeed in public. What about the other 7 states?

[R.P.]

There are some alternatives to breastfeeding infants beyond formula. People can use a wet nurse (another lactating woman), or extract their own milk, refrigerate it, place it in a bottle and give it to their child later. Some healthy nursing mothers donate milk to milk banks, which give the milk to infants who need it. These options seem like they might be better than using formula. I wonder if financial considerations would prevent women from using a human milk alternative and encourage formula use.

[Michael]

It is interesting to see the different kinds of potential breastfeeding benefits being researched. There is already data to support that breastfed babies have a decreased likelihood of developing food and respiratory allergies, a lower incidence of diarrhea, lower incidence of respiratory illnesses and ear infections, and that these are less severe when they do occur. It is important that more research is being done into the benefits of breastfeeding, but it seems so far that all the data show that breastfeeding can only have positive benefits on a baby’s current and future well-being.

[A.R.]

I have never heard of donating to milk banks, but this would be beneficial to a mother who is unable to breastfeed given this new study suggesting a link between breastfeeding and intelligence. I wonder if government-assistance programs utilize these banks rather than providing funds for formulas.

[Raymond]

I believe that breastfeeding will give the baby more nutrients to boost the baby's immune system. However, I am not convinced about how the students will do better at school/GPA, etc., because of the probability that other factors influence this, such as whether the student wants to study or not or how the parents help their kids grow and think. There are a lot of other factors that may confound the finding or financial help for the students to go to college. Students who are not breastfed will not necessarily have lower GPAs because I think it depends on the individual student.

[Elaine]

I also wonder if better breastfeeding education in hospitals would encourage more mothers to breastfeed. I personally know of a lady who found the whole idea of breastfeeding to be extremely distasteful, and despite discussing the benefits with her, she refused to breastfeed her children. Interestingly enough, both of her babies have had a particularly difficult time with allergies and infections. One can only wonder if their problems could have been lessened had they been breastfed. It would be interesting to know how much education plays a role in a woman's decision to breastfeed.

[Andie]

I wonder if someone is working on a study to figure out why breastfeeding is beneficial to development. It would be interesting to determine whether the natural breast milk itself is better for the baby or if the mother-infant bond that breastfeeding creates is responsible for the positive effects on physical and cognitive development of the infant. I have a feeling that both probably contribute.

[Kara]

I agree that there is still some stigma attached to women breastfeeding in public, but I truly feel that as more women treat it as the natural activity that it is, the less the public will feel so traumatized by women breastfeeding in public places. I agree, Jamie, this cohort seems very small, and I wonder how it could be statistically significant. And I cannot speak for all hospitals, P.K., but in the nursery I worked in, our breastfeeding moms were offered bottled water as supplementation, but no one was "forced" to feed their infants formula.

[Alice]

I wonder -- how long does the baby need to be breastfed in order to get the long-term benefits? I know that breast milk is full of nutrients, vitamins, etc. Maybe this is why it's linked with students with higher GPAs. By the way, where are milk banks? do they have one in Boston?

[Dana]

I think it is interesting that humans are the only mammals that drink milk from another species. In other mammals, breastfeeding is the natural and only way a baby is nourished. I would be curious to know just how common a true inability to breast feed is in humans, or if the majority of the time the "inability to breastfeed" is the result of tiredness, poor technique, personal beliefs, etc. Clearly there are certain situations in which a mother should not breastfeed (having certain disease states, taking certain drugs that are passed to the baby in breast milk, etc.), but I really wonder just how common it is for a human mother to genuinely not produce enough milk to feed her child?

[Katie]

Alice, here is a Web site that has a lot of information about milk banking: http://www.hmbana.org/ It also provides a list of milk bank locations throughout the U.S. Apparently there is a milk bank currently developing in Newtonville, MA, called Mothers' Milk Bank of New England.

[Keri]

What sorts of conditions or medications prevent a woman from breastfeeding? There are numerous sources pointing out the benefits of breastfeeding, so I think if mothers can, then this is something they should definitely do. As for increased intelligence and high GPAs, I agree with others and believe a combination of nature, nurture, environment and parenting styles come into play in regard to a child's education.

[Dian]

Some benefits of breastfeeding may have been exaggerated/overstated. As far as I am concerned, any perceived benefits that may be good, may be due to the mother's lifestyle or mother's behavior towards the babies and how the mother taught the kids throughout their development.

[ariel]

Natural Standard's report on breastfeeding and future cognitive function is intriguing. Hypotheses for future study may include direct physiologic benefits of breastfeeding and the contribution to infant nurturing to subsequent growth and development.

[Nicole]

I discussed the suggested improved intelligence associated with breast milk with a friend of mine who just recently gave birth. She said her doctor never mentioned this link, but she was aware of the immune system benefits. My friend actually does both (formula and breast milk) because she has a difficult time breastfeeding since she had a breast reduction surgery (less milk production perhaps?), but overall, her view was "any little bit must help." I'll mention the milk bank option to her as well. Thanks Katie!

[baby gifts]

Breastfeeding not only has health benefits, but it also builds a strong bond between the child and the mother. Breastfed children are more confident. It really has a lot of benefits. We get to save on milk, and it has a good effect on intelligence and health. =)

[Gillian]

I wonder if any women are turned off at the idea of feeding their child another woman's milk, such as in the case of milk banking? I know there is usually nothing distasteful about feeding a child cow's milk, but for some reason the idea of feeding my baby milk from another woman is a bit distasteful. Perhaps it is due to fear of possible transmission of disease or drugs in the milk. Even though I'm sure milk in milk banks is screened.

[Cheryl]

Breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the infant, but to the mother too. Breastfeeding can prevent the development of certain conditions and even cancer in new moms, including type 2 diabetes, ovarian and breast cancer, and post-partum depression. There are also studies being done looking at the effects of breastfeeding on osteoporosis development and weight loss after pregnancy. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends breastfeeding for at least six months, with a year being the optimal period of time for breastfeeding.

[Sarah]

I was familiar with the link between breastfeeding and fewer infections among babies because of antibodies in the milk, but I was not familiar with the link between school performance and breastfeeding. I am just wondering how this study was conducted differently from other studies that previously evaluated this topic since those studies were not able to prove that breastfeeding actually causes an increase in intelligence. Also, the authors found that breastfed infants were “slightly more likely to attend college.” This needs to be further defined to make the study more transparent.

[Janice]

I learned in school that breastfeeding also helps the mother lose weight after the pregnancy - so this is also another benefit for mothers to breastfeed their babies aside from improving the child’s performance in school. However, I think there needs to be more of an education effort on this issue to women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant so they can plan and prepare on the best method to feed their children. Also, how safe is it to provide milk for the baby from another lactating woman? I think answers to basic questions such as these need to be better known by women who are even planning on having children in the future.