(P09-001-25) Effects of Infant Feeding Type in the First Year of Life on Executive Functions Development at 6.5 Years of Age

Objectives: Executive functions, a cluster of high-order capacities including selective attention, conflict adaptation, cognitive flexibility and response inhibition, require the integration of the prefrontal cortex with several brain regions. Brain lipids are necessary during the first years of life for myelination development and the formation of circuits. We previously informed that children who received formula enriched with added bovine milk fat globule membrane (bMFGM) through the first year of age presented more synchronization of circuitry underlying language attention and perception at 2 years old.

In the current study we evaluated the impact of early nutrition on the development of different executive functions at 6.5 years.

Methods: Participants were originally to receive one of two routine cow’s milk-based study formulas: standard formula (SF) or a similar experimental formula (EF) with added bMFGM. For participants’ assessment the Stroop test was applied using the day/night paradigm. The task has 3 Blocks: congruent, incongruent and mixed stimuli. Accuracy, reaction time (RT) and interference effect (ms) of correct responses were analyzed. In addition, to evaluate participants’ behavior the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) was completed by the parents.

Results: From the original group, 67 participants completed the Stroop test. Forty were males and 48% had received EF during the first year. Sociodemographic characteristics from the participants, parents and environment did not present differences. The EF group presented a shorter time interference effect in incongruent responses (1254.0 ± 480.5 vs 1032.6 ± 379.7ms, p< 0.04). No differences between groups were apparent regarding the BRIEF results.

Conclusions: Our results show that the interference effect -a key component of executive functions- was shorter in the EF group, suggesting that added bMFGM in infant formula may favor myelination development and circuits that underline brain functions. These findings support current evidence that suggests formula enriched with added bMFGM, may contribute to healthy cognitive development when breastfeeding is not available.

Funding Sources: Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute