Myo-inositol, a sugar molecule found in breast milk, promotes the development of neural connections in infants’ brains. The corresponding study was published in PNAS.
Previous studies show that breast milk is beneficial for infant cognitive development. How exactly breast milk benefits infant brain development, however, has remained unknown.
For the study, researchers analyzed human breast milk samples from sites in Cincinnati, Mexico City, and Shanghai throughout the lactation period. The researchers chose different cities to control for different ethnicities, diets, and locations.
In the end, they found that myo-inositol was present in high concentrations among all breast milk samples early on, but that concentrations gradually diminished over the lactation period.
To understand how the sugar molecule affects the developing brain, they examined its effects in cultured human neurons and brain tissue. In doing so, they found that it increased synapse abundance among neurons and enhanced neuronal connectivity.
“[These finidngs truly show] the importance of valuing the complexity of breast milk, “ said principal investigator says Thomas Biederer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine, in a press release, “It’s not just a source of calories, but an extremely rich, complex biofluid, and the mother’s body is really attuned to changing the composition of breast milk to match what the infant needs at different stages of development.”
Myo-inositol is also found in the typical adult diet from fruits and grains. Studies show that the sugar molecule can have therapeutic effects in infertile women and may reduce the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus.
The researchers hope their findings will guide dietary recommendations for pediatric nutrition. Dr. Biederer also noted that the findings emphasize the importance of having policies that support breastfeeding mothers.
Going forward, the researchers hope to explore how breast milk supports infants in later stages of brain development. After connectins are established in the brain, they go through a period of refinement to ensure the right patterns are created in the brain. Dr. Biederer noted that studying this stage is 'as important, if not more important' than studying how connections initially form.
Sources: Neuroscience News, PNAS
