AAAAARGH! What an incorrect and misleading headline!!!! From Cleveland, Ohio, USA Breast milk can't help preemies' brains: study Friday, August 27, 2004 Harlan Spector http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1093599078164 580.xml A Cleveland study of extremely premature infants showed no differences in brain development between babies fed mother's milk and those given formula. (see link above for the rest of the article) Me again. The actual study did NOT study breast milk alone, only fortified breast milk vs. formula. The study which this news item reports on is: http://www.jrnldbp.com/pt/re/jdbp/abstract.00004703-200408000-00004.htm;jses sionid=Bv9JU8LjJVGougsBxKomnSxk51dNr8BMe1JCA7j1IR5tPYRstsin!-2076241621!-949 856032!9001!-1 or try: http://makeashorterlink.com/?U24026829 The Effect of Neonatal Maternal Milk Feeding on the Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 25(4):247-253, August 2004. FURMAN, LYDIA M.D.; WILSON-COSTELLO, DEANNE M.D.; FRIEDMAN, HARRIET M.A.; TAYLOR, H. GERRY Ph.D.; MINICH, NORI B.S.; HACK, MAUREEN M.B., Ch.B. Links: Abstract | HTML | PDF (88 K) Abstract: The effect of maternal milk feeding during the first 4 weeks of life on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 20 months corrected age (CA) of singleton very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1.5 kg) infants was examined. Ninety-eight VLBW infants born from January 1997 to February 1999 were followed to 20 months CA (mean birth weight, 1012 g; gestational age, 27 weeks). Maternal milk intake was calculated as both mean milliliters per kilogram per day and graded doses. Outcomes included the Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI), and rates of cerebral palsy (CP) and of overall neurodevelopmental impairment. After adjusting for neonatal and social risk, results revealed no effect of maternal milk on outcomes. MDI was predicted by both social and neonatal risk, and PDI, CP, and neurodevelopmental impairment were predicted by neonatal risk. In this small, high-risk group of VLBW infants, the effects of social and neonatal risk appear to outweigh any possible benefits of maternal milk on neurodevelopmental outcome. Letters anyone???? send them to [log in to unmask] Janice Reynolds Saskatchewan, Canada *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html