Breast is NOT best - when it comes to IQ: Children who are breastfed 'are no more intelligent than those who are bottle fed'

  • Past studies have suggested children have higher IQ if they're breastfed 
  • Researchers studied more than 11,000 children born from 1994 and 1996
  • Tested their intelligence at the ages of 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16
  • No difference in IQ between those who were breastfed and those bottle fed

By Lizzie Parry for MailOnline

Published: 13:00 EST, 23 September 2015 | Updated: 19:38 EST, 23 September 2015

Breastfeeding has no benefit over bottle feeding when it comes to a child's IQ, a new study has revealed.

In the past studies have suggested that children who are breastfed have higher intelligence than those who are not.

But new research contradicts that theory.

Scientists at Goldsmith's University in London argue there is no substantial link between breastfeeding and early life intelligence.

Scientists at Goldsmith's University in London found no substantial link between breastfeeding and early life intelligence, after monitoring more than 11,000 children born from 1994 to 1996 and testing their IQ

Scientists at Goldsmith's University in London found no substantial link between breastfeeding and early life intelligence, after monitoring more than 11,000 children born from 1994 to 1996 and testing their IQ

Researchers monitored children who were breastfed alongside a group who were bottle fed, from 18 months old to the age of 16, and assessed their IQs throughout.

At the end of the study, after their mothers' ages and social status was taken into account, both sets of children had an average IQ of 100.

Girls did moderately better in early tests, with an average IQ of five points higher, but this evened out by around the age of seven.

As a result, experts concluded long-term factors such as family background had a much bigger impact on children's IQs.

Dr Sophie von Stumm, who led the study, said: 'Children - and adults - differ in their cognitive abilities, and it is important to identify factors that give rise to these differences.

'But comparatively small events like breastfeeding are very unlikely to be at the core of something as big and complex as children's differences in IQ.

'Instead, children's IQ differences are better explained by long-term factors, for example, children's family background and their schooling.'

The study sampled 11,582 children born between 1994 and 1996 and tested their intelligence nine times between the ages of two and 16 years.

Researchers decided to use twins for the project, 5,791 sets in total, as their cognitive development is similar to that of single children, but it allowed them to check their findings for anomalies.

Mothers should be aware that they are not harming their child if they chose not to, or cannot, breastfeed. Being bottlefed as an infant won't cost your child a chance at a university degree later in life
Dr Sophie von Stumm

Of the youngsters monitored, 62 per cent were breastfed in early life for an average duration of four months, while the remaining 38 per cent were bottle fed.

The children's intelligence levels were assessed at the ages of two, three, four, seven, nine, 10, 12, 14 and 16, using a variety of different methods.

At each testing age the twins completed at least two state-of-the-art ability tests, that included a range of web-based, phone-based and parent-administered tests.

The education and occupation of the children's parents were recorded at the start and end of the research period.

The data was combined with the mothers' ages at the time of birth, and were used to adjust the children's IQ's accordingly, to ensure fair results.

Dr von Stumm added: 'Many researchers have previously investigated whether being breastfed in early life benefits IQ.

'Such an association is plausible because long-chain polysaturated fatty acids that are present in human breast milk but not animal milk or formula enhance neurodevelopment.

'However, few of the earlier studies have employed strong research designs that produce reliable results.'

Researchers, who have been working on the project for more than 19 years, discovered both groups - those who were breastfed and those bottle fed, had the same average IQ throughout the process

Researchers, who have been working on the project for more than 19 years, discovered both groups - those who were breastfed and those bottle fed, had the same average IQ throughout the process

The researchers expected to see differences in IQ between the infants who were breastfed and those who were bottle-fed at a very early age.

They anticipated that this difference in IQ would have no long term impact and that the average IQs would equal out with age.

But the team, who have been working on the project for more than 19 years, discovered both groups had the same average IQ throughout the process.

The findings led them to conclude there are little or no benefits of breastfeeding for cognitive development from early life through to adolescence.

In spite of the findings, Dr von Stumm urged new mothers not to assume that breastfeeding had no benefits at all.

She added: 'It's important to keep in mind that while our study does not indicate a link between breastfeeding and intelligence, breastfeeding potentially has other benefits, for example the development of children's autoimmune system.

'That said, mothers should be aware that they are not harming their child if they chose not to, or cannot, breastfeed.

'Being bottlefed as an infant won't cost your child a chance at a university degree later in life.' 


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