This news appears to provide vital insights about intelligence in young children. A new study from Southampton University claims that infant intelligence has more chances to be influenced by family atmosphere as opposed to the quantity of docosahexoic acid (DHA), an omega 3 fatty acid, fed in breast milk or fortified formula.
In this study, scientists trailed around 241 children from the time they were born until they turned four to examine the affiliation between breastfeeding and the use of DHA–fortified formula in infancy and function in examinations of intelligence and other aspects of brain function.
The scientists discovered that subsequent to the report of influence of mothers’ intelligence and level of education, there seemed to be no connection between the anticipated entire consumption of DHA in infancy and a child’s IQ.
“This study helps to dispel some of the myths surrounding DHA. We do know that there are clear health benefits to breast feeding but DHA, which is naturally present in breast milk and added into some formulas, is not the secret ingredient that will turn your child into an Einstein. Children’s IQ bears no relation to the levels of DHA they receive as babies. Factors in the home, such as the mother’s intelligence and the quality of mental stimulation the children receive, were the most important influences on their IQ,†commented Dr Catharine Gale, from the University’s MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre at Southampton General Hospital, who headed the study.
Omega 3 fatty acids, above all DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, are apparently discovered in elevated concentrations in the brain and build up during the brain’s developing phase, which seems to take place between the last trimester of pregnancy and the first year of life. Even though this study has illustrated that a child’s IQ may not be impacted by DHA, preceding studies have apparently exhibited that not having DHA during episodes of fast brain development could lead to issues in brain growth.
Study authors applied data from the Southampton’s Women’s Survey at the University’s School of Medicine, claimed to be the biggest project in examining women’s health and lifestyle ever conducted in the UK.