A new study provides evidence that supplementing infant formula with compounds found in breastmilk may lead to improved cognitive abilities years later in childhood.
Key findings:
- Children fed formula with added milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and lactoferrin for their first year scored higher on IQ and executive function tests at ages 5-6 compared to children fed regular formula.
- Benefits were seen in visual-spatial skills, processing speed, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.
- Effects persisted years after supplemented formula feeding ended, suggesting an influence on early brain development.
Source: Journal of Pediatrics (Vol. 261, Oct. 2023)
The Developing Brain is Sensitive to Early Nutrition
The rapid growth and development of the brain that occurs in the first few years of life represents a critical window of opportunity to influence long-term cognitive function.
The structure and capabilities of the brain can be shaped by early nutrition during this sensitive developmental period.
Human milk is uniquely suited to support optimal neural development in breastfed infants.
As such, there is interest in identifying key bioactive components of breastmilk and testing whether enriching infant formula can provide cognitive benefits more similar to breastfeeding.
MFGM and Lactoferrin: Milk Bioactives Linked to Brain Benefits
Two components in breastmilk that have been studied for their effects on neurodevelopment are MFGM and lactoferrin.
MFGM refers to the milk fat globule membrane, which surrounds the fat droplets in milk. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, and nutrients.
Research suggests that MFGM may support brain growth and cognitive function in infancy and early childhood.
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein with antioxidant properties.
It is found in large amounts in human milk. Some studies have linked lactoferrin supplementation to higher cognitive scores in infants and children.
Together, experimental studies indicate MFGM and lactoferrin hold promise as compounds that may positively influence brain development when added to infant formula.
But do measurable cognitive effects persist years later?
Testing Long-Term Mental Development in 5-6 Year Olds
To find out if early supplementation has lasting cognitive benefits, researchers conducted a multi-year follow-up study.
They enrolled children ages 5-6 years who had participated in an earlier study comparing standard infant formula to formula with added MFGM and lactoferrin.
In the original study, babies were randomly assigned to be fed one of the two formulas from birth to 12 months of age.
For the follow-up, the researchers measured overall intelligence, executive functioning, and behavioral/emotional development using standardized tests:
- IQ testing with the Chinese Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
- Executive function tests of inhibitory control, rule learning, and cognitive flexibility
- Child Behavior Checklist to assess behavior and emotions
Of the original group, 116 children completed the follow-up assessments around 5.5 years of age.
The researchers, participants, and families remained “blinded” (unaware) of which formula had been received as infants.
Key Cognitive Differences Emerge Years Later
Analysis of the cognitive data at 5-6 years uncovered significant differences favoring the children who had received formula enriched with MFGM and lactoferrin as babies.
- Overall IQ scores were nearly 5 points higher in the MFGM/lactoferrin group after adjusting for family demographics.
- Specific benefits were seen in visual-spatial skills and processing speed domains of IQ testing.
- Executive function was also better in the supplemented group, seen in both inhibitory control on the Stroop test and rule learning flexibility on the Dimensional Change Card Sorting test.
- No differences were found in behavioral/emotional scores on the Child Behavior Checklist.
The observed cognitive benefits were similar across boys and girls and not explained by differences in family income or education.
Persistent Benefits Years After Supplementation
Perhaps most intriguing, the cognitive advantages in the group fed MFGM/lactoferrin formula persisted years after the supplemented feeding stopped at 12 months of age.
This long-term effect suggests that providing key milk bioactives during a sensitive window of brain development in infancy may impart durable benefits on neural function measurable through early childhood.
While the study cannot discern whether MFGM or lactoferrin was more influential, other evidence points to MFGM as a key driver of cognitive effects.
Overall, the results add to growing data indicating that enrichment with MFGM, in particular, during the first year of life has positive effects on neurodevelopment that are both measurable and lasting.
Breastmilk Compounds May Program Early Brain Development
Why would enriched nutrition in infancy have effects that persist for years after supplemented feeding ends?
Researchers think that certain nutrients provided during sensitive periods of brain growth and wiring may program how the brain develops in ways that confer long-term advantages in learning and cognition.
Dietary components like MFGM may support optimal myelination, neurochemistry, or synapse formation during rapid brain growth in infancy.
These organizational effects embedded early on may lead to more efficient processing and lasting functional benefits.
Future Research Can Optimize Early Nutrition for Brain Development
While breastmilk is the gold standard, supplementing formula with ingredients that simulate its components holds promise for improving developmental outcomes when breastfeeding is not possible.
This study provides some of the strongest clinical evidence so far that enrichment with MFGM and possibly lactoferrin shapes brain development over the long term.
Further research is warranted to replicate the findings, identify optimal amounts to supplement, and track effects on brain structure, connectivity, and function using neuroimaging.
Identifying the unique bioactive components in breastmilk that cultivate cognitive potential is an important step toward designing early nutrition that confers lifelong benefits for brain health and function.
Human studies are illuminating potent ingredients like MFGM that may allow formula-fed infants to reap more of breastmilk’s “brain-boosting” effects.
With the right evidence-based enrichment, we move closer to nourishing brains for peak performance starting from the youngest age.
References
- Study: Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 5.5 Years of Age in Children Who Received Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane and Lactoferrin in Infant Formula Through 12 Months
- Authors: John Colombo et al. (2023)
