Breast milk is widely recognized as the most beneficial nutrition for infants, but many families face challenges in breastfeeding due to medical or logistical reasons. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control reports that only 45% of infants are exclusively breastfed at 3 months of age. Similarly, in Europe, the World Health Organisation estimates that only 25% of infants were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months from 2006-2012.
Researchers have long sought to develop a viable alternative to breast milk that can provide children with optimal nutrition for healthy development. Recent research from the University of Kansas reveals that a complex component of milk can be added to infant formula to confer long-term cognitive benefits, including improved intelligence and executive function in children.
The study adds to the growing scientific support for the importance of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in early human development. It complements previous findings that identified specific molecules in breast milk that, when added to formula, may help reduce the sensitivity of formula-fed babies to allergens. Additionally, an Israeli start-up has explored the natural mechanisms of human breast milk to create a novel bioactive ingredient that can potentially benefit adults with inflammatory disorders.
Published in the Journal of Pediatrics, the latest study reveals that feeding infants formula supplemented with MFGM and lactoferrin for 12 months raised IQ by 5 points at 5 ½ years of age. The effects were most evident in tests of children’s information processing speed and visual-spatial skills. Significant differences were also observed in tests of executive function, which involves complex skills such as rule learning and inhibition.
According to John Colombo, KU Life Span Institute director and researcher, all forms of mammalian milk contain a membrane surrounding large fat globules that provide essential nutrients for human nutrition and brain development. However, this membrane has typically been removed during the manufacturing process of milk-based infant formula. Recent chemical analyses have unveiled the complexity of this membrane and its potential contributions to health and brain development.
This study builds upon previous research conducted in Shanghai, China, which demonstrated that formula supplemented with bovine MFGM and lactoferrin resulted in higher scores on neurodevelopmental tests during the first year and improved language skills at 18 months of age.
Although the global nutrition research community has been investigating MFGM for about a decade, it remains uncertain whether one specific component or the combination of nutrients present in the membrane is responsible for these developmental benefits. Notably, these benefits were observed in children long after the cessation of formula feeding at 12 months of age, suggesting that early exposure to these nutritional components contributes to the long-term structure and function of the brain.
In conclusion, the addition of a complex component of milk to infant formula has been shown to confer long-term cognitive benefits, enhancing intelligence and executive function in children. This research underscores the importance of ingredients found in milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) for early human development. Further studies are needed to understand the individual components and mechanisms that contribute to these benefits.
