Breastfeeding may Ward off ADHD in Children

Here is another reason for mothers to breast-feed their children - it can protect against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood.

Children with ADHD face problems in paying attention, have trouble in controlling impulsive behaviors (acting without thinking about the consequences), and tend to be hyperactive. An early identification and treatment of the disorder is important, as it can have a negative impact on learning and academic development.

The current study, published in Breastfeeding Medicine, found that ADHD was more prevalent among children who didn't receive sufficient levels of their mother's milk - one of the most nutritious foods in the whole world - during infancy.

Researcher Aviva Mimouni-Bloch and colleagues from Israel reached the conclusion after analyzing a group of children diagnosed with ADHD aged between 6 and 12.  Two other groups - one with siblings of the ADHD children and another with normal children - without the disorder were formed for comparison. Parents filled questionnaires related to the duration of breast-feeding their children.

At the end of the study, researchers found that a significant number of ADHD children did not receive sufficient levels of their mother's milk during the early stages of development. At three months, only 43 percent of ADHD children were breast-fed, and 29 percent at six months, compared to their siblings (69 and 50 percent respectively) and the normal children (73 and 57 percent respectively).

"Breastfeeding has been shown to have a positive impact on child development, good health, and protection against illness. Now, another possible benefit of breastfeeding for three months and especially six months or longer has been identified," Ruth Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief of Breastfeeding Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, said in a news release. "This study opens another avenue of investigation in the prevention of ADHD."

Experts from the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend new moms to exclusively breast-feed healthy babies until the sixth month, as formula milk is not as effective as breast milk in preventing illness among babies. Apart from that, previous research has shown that breast-feeding is effective in protecting babies from many deadly diseases, including HIV. According to health experts from womenshealth.gov, breast milk is easy to digest and contains cells, hormones and antibodies required to protect babies from diseases. It can reduce the risks associated with childhood leukemia, skin rashes and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).