A recent study suggests that breastfeeding, even alongside formula feeding, can positively influence an infant.
The infant's gut metabolome, impacting brain development and potentially boosting test scores in later years.
Let's find out more about how it's connected.
A Surprising Discovery
The study analyzed the fecal metabolome in 112 infants at 1- and 6-months-old, categorizing them based on breastfeeding or formula feeding, and later conducting cognitive tests at age 2.
The results revealed significant differences in metabolites among infants from various feeding groups.
Babies with more metabolites associated with breast milk in their stool performed better on cognitive tests, while those with more formula-associated metabolites performed worse.
Cholesterol, a crucial metabolite for healthy brain cell circuits, was found in higher amounts in the stools of breastfed babies, correlating with improved cognitive scores.
On the contrary, formula-fed babies exhibited higher levels of cadaverine, a contaminant linked to lower test scores.
Why It's Useful
The test results show that even partial breastfeeding can provide significant benefits to infants, encouraging parents to prioritize breastfeeding as much as possible.
The findings may also inform improvements in infant formula to optimize healthy brain development.
Recently, we have talked about a curious Birthday Paradox.
