Breastfeeding Helps Brain Development
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Children born prematurely, significantly more than other children, need breastfeeding. It is proved that mother’s milk provides the intake of substances in the child’s body that are required for brain development.
Mother's milk has many beneficial properties. Babies who are breastfeeding have a stronger immune defense, their body has a strong resistance to adverse environmental conditions, they have a lower risk of metabolic disorders and the development of oncology. And even more: the proteins present in breast milk protect immunocytes from the human immunodeficiency virus.
Researchers at the US Children's National Medical Center have pointed out an additional “plus” to the mother product. As it turned out, breast milk improves the brain development process in infants who were born prematurely.
Scientists conducted a research project involving children born from 32 weeks of gestation, or even earlier. Their birth weight was less than 1.5 kg. The use of the proton MRI method helped specialists to study the state of the cerebellum and white matter in the right frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. Proton MRI made it possible to evaluate the chemical component of nerve tissue. As it was discovered, the brain of babies who were breastfed received a slightly different amount of important substances, in contrast to babies fed with mixtures.
For example, in infants receiving breast milk, white matter received more inositol, and the cerebellum received more creatine. We will tell you more about these important components for the brain.
Inositol is a carbohydrate produced in certain tissues or organs. Its predominant content is found in the brain: inositol is present in the cell membranes, allowing neurotransmitters and individual steroid hormonal substances to interact with cellular receptors.
As for creatine, this component potentiates the replenishment of energy resources. This process is especially important for brain activity, especially when you consider that the children's brain is developing at a literally rapid pace. An increase in the level of these components indicates that the brain tissues are rapidly changing, mature and adapt, which again is very important for premature babies.
A little earlier, scientists have already been able to notice the positive effect of mother's milk on the overall development of the brain in infants born before the due date. Now, the new information received will help specialists understand what metabolic processes are involved. The staff of the center announced the results of their scientific work at a regular conference of pediatricians in Baltimore.
The full study materials are published at medicalxpress.com/news/2019-04-breastfeeding-boosts-metabolites-important-brain.html