Breast Milk and Brain: The Influence of Iodine and Neurotrophic and Growth Factors on Children's Neurodevelopment-A Secondary Analysis.

Abstract

Objective: This study targeted to investigate the potential role of breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during the early stage of lactation in child neurocognitive development.

Materials and methods: In this secondary analysis, we examined 122 breastfeeding mothers and their healthy children, all of whom were breastfed for at least six months. Levels of BDNF, IGF-1, and BMIC were assessed in breast milk samples obtained between the third and fifth days after lactation began (before any iodine supplementation intervention). Three-year-old children were administered the Bayley-III screening test to assess their cognitive, motor, and language development.

Results: The median (interquartile range) concentrations of iodine, BDNF, and IGF-1 in breast milk during the starting few days of lactation were 285.0 (181.0-366.0) μg/l, 0.59 (0.52-0.76) ng/ml, and 12.5 (9.6-18.3) ng/ml, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) cognitive, motor, and language scores were 101.0 (10.8), 93.4 (14.6), 100.1 (13.5) and, respectively. Linear regression models revealed a negative relation between breast milk iodine and children's cognitive development ((β unadjusted = -0.004 (P = 0.010); β adjusted = -0.003 (P = 0.024)). However, no associations were found between breast milk BDNF and IGF-1 and cognitive, language, or motor scores in three-year-olds.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that early exposure to iodine, BDNF, and IGF-1 in breast milk, measured prior to iodine supplementation, has no substantial association with neurodevelopment in three-year-old children. The weak negative association between BMIC and cognitive scores may reflect prenatal iodine status, warranting further research to explore long-term effects of supplementation.