Formula feeding supplemented with milk fat globule membranes  improves cognitive score in term infants at 12 months

• Introduction: Findings of enhanced cognitive development in breast‐fed compared with formula‐fed infants suggest that breast milk contains neurodevelopmentally beneficial components. Animal studies report positive behavioral effects of supplementation with components included in the bovine milkfat globule membrane fraction (MFGM). Behavioral effects of MFGM supplemented formula in human infants have not been studied. This study tested the hypothesis that infants fed an experimental formula (EF) supplemented with a bovine MFGM fraction would display a more favorable neurofunctional development than infants fed a standard formula (SF) at 12 months.Participants and Methods: Healthy term formula‐fed infants (n = 160) and a breast‐fed reference (BFR) group (n = 80) were included in a prospective double blind randomized trial before 2 months of age. Formula‐fed infants were randomized to receive EF or SF from inclusion until 6 months. At 12 months, cognitive, motor and verbal functions were tested using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development‐III.Results: The cognitive score was significantly higher in the EF (105.8 ± 9.2) than SF (101.8 ± 8.0) group, but equal between the EF and BFR groups. No differences were found in motor or verbal score between the formula groups. The BFR group displayed higher verbal but not motor scores than the formula groups.Conclusion: In keeping with the hypothesis, feeding infants MFGM supplemented formula resulted in improved cognitive function at 12 months compared with a standard formula. The difference in cognitive score between the EF and SF groups is compliant with calculated differences between formula‐fed and breast‐fed infants in previous studies.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

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kon (subject category)