Researchers add prebiotics to infant formula in an effort to improve learning, memory, brain development to match that of breastfed babies

( Natural News ) Breastfeeding your child is still the safest and healthiest way to nourish your baby . Scientists and nutritionists alike have observed the myriad of benefits that breastfeeding brings, from an increased bond with the baby to an infant that develops healthier than its baby formula-fed counterparts. That said, there are families that — for one reason or another — opt to give their children infant formula instead. These breastmilk substitutes are far and away more inferior from their naturally-derived cousins but they perform their intended purpose relatively well, or at least up to a certain point. This hasn’t stopped researchers though from trying to mimic the real thing. Recently, a team from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences concluded that infant formula supplemented with prebiotics can improve the memory and brain development in piglets . This is the first study that analyzed the specific effects prebiotics in baby formulas can have in the brain development of children. Other studies focused on prebiotics combined with other formula components. Authors of the study, which included Ryan Dilger, associate professor at the university, say that their dietary supplementation can “influence brain development” in pigs which could be similar in human children. Pigs, unlike rats and mice, share a similar digestive profile to that of humans and generally behave the same way as well. As explained by lead author Stephen Fleming, a doctoral student in the Neuroscience Program at the university: “There hasn’t been a lot of work looking at the gut-brain axis in humans, but a lot of rodent work is showing those connections. This is taking it to an animal model that is a lot closer to human infants and asking if that connection still exists and if we can tease out […]

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