Effect of nutritionally modified infant formula on academic performance: linkage of seven dormant randomised controlled trials to national education data
Study (n=1763) found no benefit for any modified formula for performance in mathematics examinations at age 16 years, suggesting the infant formula modifications did not promote long term cognitive benefit compared with standard infant formulas.
Source:
British Medical Journal
SPS commentary:
A related editorial notes that effects on early development had not been shown previously, and that these findings now also discount any new benefits arising later in childhood.
The authors found no differences in cognition associated with iron supplementation, but they noted that a previous study found reduced cognition at age 16 years among children who had received formula milk supplemented with iron in infancy. The editorial suggests it may be time to consider whether current regulations governing the composition of formula milks need review worldwide, given the lack of benefit associated with supplementary iron and its possible adverse effect on growth and cognition. They note that recently published evidence suggests a need to better regulate research into infant formulas and to ensure that this evidence is used to remove unnecessary and potentially harmful nutrients from formula milk, and to prevent misleading promotional claims.