Breastfed children are brainier, study suggests

UK Guardian ^ | May 6 2008 | Ian Sample

[Aristotelian]

Breastfed babies are more intelligent than those weaned on formula milk, according to the most comprehensive study conducted on the issue.

Doctors followed nearly 14,000 children over six and a half years and found that those who were breastfed fared significantly better in IQ tests.

At the age of six and a half, children who had been exclusively breastfed scored 7.5 points higher in verbal intelligence tests and 5.9 points higher in overall IQ tests. Teachers also rated the breastfed children higher at reading, writing and solving mathematical problems.

The finding, which confirms earlier research, raises the question of whether it is breast milk itself or associated maternal care that is responsible for boosting the intelligence of developing babies. Previous studies have hinted that breastfeeding increases intelligence, but the effect has proved hard to nail down.

[Aristotelian]

I leave it to my fellow Freepers to draw conclusions.

[infantrywhooah]

Can it be retroactive for adults?

[Aristotelian]

Correction: I leave it to brainier-than-I Freepers to draw conclusions.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...or associated maternal care that is responsible for boosting the intelligence of developing babies.”

Gee. I wasn’t breast-fed, so I’m obviously a moron, but this seems to be a no-brainer to me!

Spend your young life basically “institutionalized” in daycare where people are paid $8 an hour to care for you, or THRIVE under the direct care and love of a Mom and Dad that love you and think you’re the best thing since sliced bread?

Hmmmm....

[CindyDawg]

I guess we could all start with posting our IQs. We that are older should score higher:’)

[P8riot]

I was gonna ask if it was too late to start

[Alouette]

Dolly Parton bottle-fed her kids.

She was arrested for child abuse and neglect.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I’ve often wondered why human breast milk isn’t sold as a delicacy or an incredibly expensive health food.

[G.Love]

Um, I’m sure I’m reading this wrong, but it sounds like six-year-olds are being breastfed. Thanks, but I’d rather forgo the extra 7 IQ points.

[Sherman Logan]

An idiotic study. At least in America, it is pretty well known that higher income and education mothers are much more likely to breast feed. Presumably they and their husbands/boyfriends/significant others also have higher than average IQs.

Could this be simple genetics?

[NittanyLion]

I think it suggests that women who are tenacious enough to successfully breastfeed until three months are likely to display a similar level of tenacity toward the welfare of their child during later interactions.

Certainly it doesn't apply to all cases.

[CindyDawg]

Do they have Holiday Inns in the UK?

[Nachoman]

Does this apply to third-world countries where breast milk is all that is available to feed their babies?

[Admin Moderator]

UK Guardian is on the excerpt/link only list of Free Republic’s copyright guidelines. Please make note of it.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts

[Parley Baer]

“Can it be retroactive for adults?”

I assume you are volunteering. I also assume you would want pictures.

[Southerngl]

Does this journalist understand the term ‘weaned’? Doesn’t that mean TO REMOVE FROM MILK? Not FED MILK.

Maybe he was FED formula. Or maybe I was and I am completely wrong.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Oh good grief.

Well, here's the brief summary of the article which we aren't allowed to excerpt: IT IS UTTERLY FRAUDULENT.

[kalee]

ping

[rlmorel]

Okay.

Now THAT made me pass milk out my nose!