Neural maturation of breast and formula fed infants

ABSTRACT

Human milk provides infants with a full complement of all polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and arachidonic acid [AA]. Formula milks contain only the precursors of DHA and AA, and linoleic acid and hence formula fed infants must synthesize their own DHA and AA. This work aimed at evaluating the hypothesis that the method of feeding; whether breast feeding or formula feeding in early infancy affects subsequent neurodevelopment and achievement of optimum brain function [Visual system, auditory and Sensory system]. The present study includes 53 infants [at the age of one year +/- I month], 30 infants were exclusively breast fed and 23 infants were exclusively formula fed. Each infant was subjected to a full neurological examination and neurophysiological studies including, flash Visual Evoked Potentials [FVEPs], Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potentials [ABEPs], and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials [SSEPs]. There was significant prolongation in the P100 wave latency of FVEP in formula fed infants [96.4 +/- 9.0] compared with breast-fed infants [90.2 +/- 8.5]. There was a significant prolongation of absolute latency of wave I with subsequent prolongation of wave Ill and wave V in formula-fed infants group compared with breast fed infants group. Meanwhile, there was no significant differences between the two groups as regards to interpeak latencies. There was significant prolongation in interpeak latencies between cortical and Erb's components in formula fed infants compared with breast fed infants. There was no significant correlation between sex, consanguinity, sibbling number, order of birth, parental educational level, age of supplementation of foods, social level, head circumference, anterior fontanel and different variables of evoked potentials. VEP, BAEP and SSEP are more mature in breast fed infants relative to formula fed infants at one year of age. Consequently we can speculate that breast milk helps earlier development and maturation of some aspects of the nervous system than milk formulas