Fortified Formula Boosts Brain Development

September 15, 2009 7:15 a.m. EST

Miami, FL (AHN) - Babies fed formula supplemented with an essential fatty acid found in breast milk have higher cognitive skills than babies fed formula alone, according to a new study.

Previous research already showed the cognitive benefits of breastfeeding, but University of Texas researchers and scientists with the Retina Foundation of the Southwest said they have discovered that the fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, could be the reason.

The scientists studied 229 infants receiving either formula or a combination of formula and DHA. The babies were given the different formulas either shortly after they were born, after six weeks of breastfeeding, or after four to six months of breastfeeding.

The babies were given a problem-solving test when they were 9 months old where they had to complete a series of steps to get a rattle. The scientists said in a statement that the babies who were fed the DHA-supplemented formula were more likely to get the rattle and showed more intentional behaviors that allowed them to get the rattle.

The study is published in the September/October issue of the journal Child Development.