Breastfeeding for 3 months or longer but not probiotics is associated with reduced risk for inattention/hyperactivity and conduct problems in very-low-birth-weight children at early primary school age

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216319
  • (1) Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of proposed “microbiome-stabilising interventions”, i.e., breastfeeding for ≥3 months and prophylactic use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/ Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics on neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) children aged 5–6 years. (2) Methods: We performed a 5-year-follow-up assessment including a strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and an intelligence quotient (IQ) assessment using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence(1) Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of proposed “microbiome-stabilising interventions”, i.e., breastfeeding for ≥3 months and prophylactic use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/ Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics on neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) children aged 5–6 years. (2) Methods: We performed a 5-year-follow-up assessment including a strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and an intelligence quotient (IQ) assessment using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)-III test in preterm children previously enrolled in the German Neonatal Network (GNN). The analysis was restricted to children exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and postnatal antibiotics. (3) Results: 2467 primary school-aged children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In multivariable linear regression models breastfeeding ≥3 months was associated with lower conduct disorders (B (95% confidence intervals (CI)): −0.25 (−0.47 to −0.03)) and inattention/hyperactivity (−0.46 (−0.81 to −0.10)) as measured by SDQ. Probiotic treatment during the neonatal period had no effect on SDQ scores or intelligence. (4) Conclusions: Prolonged breastfeeding of highly vulnerable infants may promote their mental health later in childhood, particularly by reducing risk for inattention/hyperactivity and conduct disorders. Future studies need to disentangle the underlying mechanisms during a critical time frame of development.show moreshow less

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Author: Christoph Härtel, Juliane Spiegler, Ingmar Fortmann, Mariana Astiz, Henrik Oster, Bastian Siller, Dorothee Viemann, Thomas Keil, Tobias Banaschewski, Marcel Romanos, Egbert Herting, Wolfgang Göpel
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216319
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Medizinische Fakultät / Kinderklinik und Poliklinik
Medizinische Fakultät / Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie
Medizinische Fakultät / Institut für Klinische Epidemiologie und Biometrie
Language:English
Parent Title (English):Nutrients
ISSN:2072-6643
Year of Completion:2020
Volume:12
Issue:11
Article Number:3278
Source:Nutrients (2020) 12:11, 3278. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113278
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113278
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Tag:breastfeeding; inattention/hyperactivity; intelligence; preterm children; probiotic prophylaxis; strength and difficulties
Release Date:2022/08/03
Date of first Publication:2020/10/26
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International