title: Nutritional influences on early white matter development: response to Anderson and Burggren.
abstract: Does breastfeeding alter early brain development? In a recent retrospective study, our group examined the cross-sectional relationship between early infant feeding practice and white matter maturation and cognitive development. In groups matched for child and mother age, gestation duration, birth weight, gender distribution, and socio-economic status; we observed that children who were breastfed exclusively for at least 3 months showed, on average, increased white matter myelin development compared to children who either were exclusively formula-fed, or received a mixture of breast milk and formula. In secondary analysis on sub-sets of these children, again matched for important confounding variables, we found improved cognitive test scores of receptive language in the exclusively breast-fed children compared to formula or formula+breast-fed children; and that prolonged breastfeeding was associated with increased motor, language, and visual functioning in exclusively breast-fed children. In response to this work, Anderson and Burggren have questioned our methodology and, by association, our findings. Further, they use their critique as a platform for advancing an alternative interpretation of our findings: that observed results were not associated with prolonged breast-feeding, but rather delayed the introduction of cow's milk. In this response, we address and clarify some of the misconceptions presented by Anderson and Burggren.
authors: Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Electronic address: sdeonii@brown.edu.
authors: Sean C L
authors: SC
authors: Deoni
authors: Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors: Douglas C
authors: DC
authors: Dean
authors: Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors: Lindsay
authors: L
authors: Walker
authors: Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Dirks
authors: Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Department of Neuroimaging, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: O'Muircheartaigh
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Brain development; Breastfeeding; Infant imaging; Infant nutrition; Myelin; Myelin maturation; White matter development