Protective effect of breastfeeding with regard to children's behavioral and cognitive problems

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding has been associated with a lower risk for behavioral problems in childhood. However, it is uncertain whether these associations are mediated by the mothers or childs IQ. We examined the association between breastfeeding and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other behavioral problems in childhood and assessed the role of the childs IQ and the mothers IQ in generating this association. Findings: The current study included 874 children (8-11 years) recruited from schools in five Korean cities. Mothers were asked about nursing, and the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavioral problems were compared between children who were breastfed and those who were not breastfed. After adjusting for age, gender, area of residence, and yearly family income, a lack of breastfeeding was associated with increased internalizing, externalizing, and overall behavioral problems as well as the diagnosis of ADHD. These associations weakened but mostly remained significant after adjusting for childs IQ and maternal IQ. In addition, a lack of breastfeeding was associated with low childs IQ and this association weakened, but remained significant even after adjusting for maternal IQ and the diagnosis of ADHD. Conclusions: This study suggests that there is a protective effect of breastfeeding on childhood behavioral outcomes with a partial mediation of this effect by the childs IQ, and there is a positive effect of breastfeeding on childhood intelligence with a partial mediation of this effect by the childs attention problem.