Researchers from the University of Oxford found that longer breastfeeding was associated with better test scores later in life and better academic performance during adolescence. The results of the study, magazine Archives of Childhood Disease (part of BMJ).
A research team analyzed data from 5,000 British children included in the Millennium cohort study. All participants were born in 2000-2002. Researchers collected data on academic performance and lifestyles of children aged 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, 17, and 22.
Approximately one third of the participants (32.8%) have never breastfed, while the rest have been breastfed at various times. Only 9.5% breastfed for at least 12 months.
Analysis of the results showed that longer breastfeeding was associated with better educational outcomes. Compared with children who never breastfed, children in the second group were 39% more likely to score high and 25% less likely to fail an exam.
Scientists cannot establish causal relationships in this study. They plan to run additional experiments to confirm their results.