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Relationship between Infant Breast Milk Exposure and Impulse Control during Adolescence
Author(s) -
Darcey Valerie,
Stevens Benson,
VanMeter John,
Rose Emma,
Fishbein Diana
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.392.5
Subject(s) - impulsivity , breast milk , medicine , brain development , psychology , developmental psychology , demography , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience , sociology
Infant diet influences neurodevelopment, yet the direct impact of early diet on neural circuits that underlie impulse control, which are critical for regulating risky behaviors, is not well understood. Here we examined teen prefrontal cortical (PFC) structure and behavioral outcomes in relation to breast milk intake during the first 6 months of life Participants were alcohol‐naïve teens enrolled in a longitudinal neuroimaging study. Mothers completed a survey on infant diet. Exclusively breastfed ( BF ) were matched to exclusively formula‐fed ( F) teens (each N=14).Exclusive Breastfed (BF) Exclusive Formula (F) p (2‐tailed) Matched characteristics N 14 14 ‐‐ Age (years) 12.5+0.6 12.2+0.9 NS Gender (% female) 64.3% 64.3% NS Race (% Caucasian) 35.7% 35.7% NS Maternal education (% > high school education) 64.3% 64.3% NS Other characteristics Maternal age at delivery (years) 31.9+4.7 34.0+6.8 NS Teen BMI (kg/m 2 ) 19.2+3.9 22.9+5.2 0.042 Teen birth weight (oz.) 118.1+29.7 117.3+19.8 NS Teen birth length (inches) 20.2+1.5 20.7+1.2 NSImpulsivity and risk‐taking were assessed via Go/No‐go and Wheel of Fortune tasks. Parents rated teens on the BRIEF Inhibition subscale. PFC gray matter volumes (GMV) were derived from 3T T1 MPRAGE images. Images meeting quality standards (11 BF; 10 F ) were analyzed via VBM. Compared to BF teens, F teens were less inhibited and tended toward greater impulsivity, but did not differ in risky choices. There was a trend toward interaction of group and GMV in the middle orbital gyrus predicting risky choices in F teens.Exclusive Breastfed (BF) Exclusive Formula (F) p (2‐tailed) BRIEF‐Inhibition score 12.9+3.1 16.1+3.9 0.021 Go/No‐Go (% commission errors) 45.0+16.5 55.3+13.7 0.084 Wheel of Fortune (average % high risk selections) 51.0+6.0 49.0+6.0 NS Average GMV in Frontal Middle Orbital Gyrus, R (BA11) 0.23+0.02 0.22+0.02 NSThis preliminary analysis suggests exclusive breast milk in the first 6 months of life facilitates impulse control years later. In contrast, exclusive formula diet may influence neurodevelopment in a manner that predicts risky choices. Determining how this complex relationship is mediated by dietary factors that benefit brain maturation and mitigate risk taking may improve health outcomes.