Infant Nutrition – A Study on Food and Brain Development

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

A new ongoing study has been launched by Agriculture Research Service (ARS) funded scientists, in conjunction with the USDA, examining how nutrition and diet regime affect an infant’s central nervous system development from birth.  Using non-invasive tools; infants, toddlers, and school-aged children will be assessed for neurological and physiological development from birth.

With this new study, researchers hope to uncover the best feeding practices for brain development in newborns, infants, and toddlers.  Aptly named “The Beginnings Study”, behavior, growth, and brain activity of hundreds of infants will be measured.  The infants in the study are being fed one of the three most common nutrient sources for newborn babies: breast milk, cow’s milk based formula, or soy-based formula.

While final results are too soon to confirm, preliminary results have confirmed another positive aspect of breastfeeding.  Currently, breastfed babies have language and cognitive advantages over the formula fed babies in the study.  Since brain development continues through early childhood, researchers conclude more study is needed to obtain a clearer picture on the effects of food and brain development in infants.  The study will follow the infants into early childhood posting new developments as they arise.

Newborn babies soak up new information from their environments like a sponge as their growing brain sprouts new nerve cell connections.  Brain development begins in the womb and is further guided by genetics.  Proper nutrition is essential for this growing web of neurons and as Child Care Aware points out, there is no such thing as starting too early. 

 
Scientists have been focusing more research than ever on pinpointing exactly what nutrients directly affect a baby’s brain and cognitive development.  Previously, studies have focused on the minimum nutrient requirements needed in a baby’s diet.  The tide has turned with both parents and researchers alike seeking optimum nutrition for infants instead of simply meeting minimum guidelines. In fact, many infant formulas are adding additional nutrients, such as DHA, that have been shown in studies to enhance brain development.  With so much focus in the past on what babies should not eat, this study actually aims to shed light on what constitutes an optimally nutritious diet for infants into the future.  

Reference:

US Department of Agriculture (2007, November 26). Diet For Brain Development, From The Beginning. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December

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