According to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, prolonged breastfeeding is linked to better academic performance in adolescence, especially during exams.
- Researchers at the University of Oxford have found that children who have been breastfed for at least 12 months perform better in school during adolescence than those who have not.
- Children who were breastfed for at least 12 months were 39% more likely to do well in English and math exams.
- Teenagers who benefited from breast milk longer during childhood had better overall academic performance compared to those who did not.
Breast milk is one of the best ways to ensure the baby’s good health. Rich in nutrients and antibodies, it protects the infant against infections and diseases. But that would not be its only asset, according to work published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood on June 5, 2022. Prolonged breastfeeding is said to have a positive impact on children’s academic results.
Breastfeeding would help you get good grades in exams
The team of researchers from the University of Oxford studied the records of 4,940 children born between 2000 and 2002 in the United Kingdom. They examined their marks in English and mathematics during the examinations called GCSE passed around 16 years old, the equivalent of the Brevet des collèges in France. Analyzes showed that babies who were breastfed for at least 12 months had better results than those who were not. They are 39% more likely to have good grades in both disciplines and 25% less likely to fail the English test.
In detail, about a fifth of young people who have been breastfed for a long time failed the English exam, while the rate is more than 41% among those who have never been breastfed. The percentage of A or A+ was 28.5% among the breastfed and 9.6% among the non-breastfed.
In mathematics, only 23.7% of children breastfed for at least 12 months failed their test compared to more than 41% among non-breastfed children. The rate of A was here respectively 31.4% and 11%.
The cognitive development of the child favored by prolonged breastfeeding
These results are important because they underscore the positive impact of prolonged breastfeeding on children’s cognitive development.
“Several mechanisms may explain the association between breastfeeding and school performance. The main proposed mechanism is improved cognitive development. Breast milk contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients, which improve neurodevelopment”write the authors in their article.
They conclude: “duration of breastfeeding was associated with better school performance at age 16 in children living in England, after controlling for significant confounders. However, the effect size was small and may be subject to residual confounding Breastfeeding should continue to be encouraged, where possible, as potential improvements in academic achievement are only one of its potential benefits.”
However, scientists recognize that further work is needed to confirm and explain the association found between breastfeeding and school performance.
