Study Shows Possible Breastfeeding Link with Higher IQ

19 Mar 2015 --- A long-term research project from Brazil, which traced nearly 3,500 babies, has found that those who were breastfed for longer went on to score higher in IQ tests when they became adults.

The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, did note that there are a range of factors which could also have an impact on intelligence, but researchers had ruled out issues such as mother’s education, family income and birth weight. The group that took part in the study were evenly distributed across social class. 

Dr Bernardo Lessa Horta, from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, who headed up the research, said he believed breast milk may offer an advantage because it is a good source of long-chain saturated fatty acids which are essential for brain development. 

And Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said evidence already indicated breastfeeding provided health benefits for babies such as reduced respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in infancy. 

While studies in the past have already linked breastfeeding with a higher IQ, this study - which covers a greater sample size than many other pieces of research of this type - also looks at other factors including education achievement and income at age 30.