Breast-fed babies may be smarter

MONTREAL, May 6 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers said their study in Belarus links breastfeeding and a child's higher scores on intelligence tests.

The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found children fed only breast milk past the age of 3 months scored an average of 7.5 points higher on tests measuring verbal intelligence, 2.9 points higher on non-verbal intelligence tests and 5.9 points higher on overall intelligence when tested at about the age of 6, compared to children in a control group.

"Although breastfeeding initiation rates have increased substantially during the last 30 years, much less progress has been achieved in increasing the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding," the study authors said in a statement.

Study leader Dr. Michael S. Kramer of McGill University and the Montreal Children's Hospital conducted a randomized trial of a breastfeeding promotion program involving patients at 31 maternity hospitals and affiliated clinics in Belarus.

Between June 1996 and December 1997, clinics were randomly assigned either to adopt a program supporting and promoting breastfeeding or to continue their current practices and policies. A total of 7,108 infants and mothers visited facilities promoting breastfeeding and 6,781 infants and mothers visited control facilities.