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SUMMARY
Although biochemical evidence seems to support the fact that more
DHA is incorporated into the brain of breastfed infants compared
with formula-fed infants, whether the levels of DHA in the brain are
clinically significant is unclear. Because randomized trials cannot
be done, this issue is difficult to study. The effects of
breastfeeding on developmental outcome in term infants seems to be
small or insignificant. For otherwise healthy children the potential
difference are not clinically relevant; however, these small
differences distributed over an entire population might have a
significant effect on society. Although significant methodologic
concerns exist, the effects breastfeeding on preterm infants may be
greter than those for term infants. Extremely low birth weight,
premature infants (<750-1000g) have been found to have IQs that are
13 points lower than term controls and a 50% to 60% risk for
requiring special-education services when they are in school. In
these infants, small improvements in IQ and neurologic function
could have a much greater effect. Further study of
neurodevelopmental outcome in premature infants fed breast milk
compared with those fed preterm formula are indicated. This
information should not change the practice of encouraging
breastfeeding of term and preterm infants because other advantages
to breastfeeding exist.
(The Pediatric Clinic of North America)
BREASTFEEDING 2001, PART I:
THE EVIDENCE FOR BREASTFEEDING
Volume 48.Number1.February 2001
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