Anyone who ventures to read this article may think that scientists do not know ‘and to invent “so that mothers will breastfeed their babies. Nothing is further from the truth. For the truth, as Australian scientists were able to observe for 14 years after following a group of children, breast milk is consumed for long periods protects the mental health of juveniles, at least through adolescence.
Wendy Oddy, Telethon Institute for Child Health research, is the senior director of an investigation that began in 1989, inviting participation from 2,900 women who were 16-20 weeks of gestation. All data (family, social, economic, demographic and medical) were taken into account as also examination of the newborn to two days of delivery.
Participants 2366 children
After scoring the form of infant feeding (breast milk or formula) and the duration of breastfeeding (less than six months or more than half a year), the scientists conducted specific questionnaires on behavior and psychopathology of young participants (they were finally 2366) when they were one, two, three, five, eight, 10 and 14 years.
“In the analysis include the potential factors that could affect the results as the age of their child’s birth mother, educational level, family structure, stress level at home, baby’s height and weight at birth and whether there had been or no postpartum depression, “say the researchers in their paper, published in the latest ‘The Journal of Pediatrics.
Of the 2,366 children, 11% never took the chest, 19% yes but less than three months while another 19% were breast fed for three to six months. In addition, 28% took breast milk of six to 12 months and 24% a year or more.
“The younger mothers with 12 or fewer years of studies, more stressed, less income and who smoked during pregnancy are those most frequently breastfed their children less than half a year,” the authors note.
Furthermore, the data show that “short lactations (less than six months) are associated with increased morbidity of mental health that extends from infancy through adolescence.
This relationship occurs in internalizing disorders (depression, anxiety …) and externalizing (conduct disorder, antisocial personality …), as well as significant behavioral problems … And this association persisted after taking into account social factors, family, economic and psychological in the first years of life, “says the study.
The mechanisms
There are several possible mechanisms that may clarify why breastfed infants over six months enjoy better mental health. One factor may be that contact with the mother during breastfeeding has a positive effect on the development of neuroendocrine aspects necessary for the response to stress [a risk factor for mental disorders], which may affect the child later. In addition, breastfeeding provides a link that has a positive psychological influence on the small. ”
Another possible route lies in the fatty acids and bioactive components of milk. “They are essential for further development and also influence the response to stress. Thus, the hormone leptin to reduce it through their action in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal gland, while the formulas have a depressive effect on the child’s behavior. ”
Given these results, the authors argue “the development of programs that encourage mothers to breastfeed longer in order to benefit the mental health of their children.”