Initial nutrition effects child's brain development

Feeding in the first days and weeks of an infant's life could have a significant effect on the way that their brain develops, according to new research.

Scientists from London found that pre-term babies which were fed an enriched milk formula in the first few weeks following birth were able to outperform other premature babies in IQ tests.

Writing in the journal Pediatric Research, they also noted that the benefits were still apparent during the children's teen years. Imaging of the infants' brains revealed that a particular part developed more in those fed the enriched milk.

Talking to the BBC, Dr Elizabeth Isaacs, lead researcher from the UCL Institute of Child Health, said: "It is not clear whether this just relates to pre-term infants, who have very specific development issues.

"But obviously, a next question would be if there are any wider implications, both for feeding beyond those first few weeks, and for babies who are born at term."

At 18 months and then at the age of eight, children underwent developmental and IQ tests. During the latter tests, the verbal IQ skills of boys in the higher nutrient group were 12 points higher than boys from the standard nutrient group, on average.

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