Mohamed Mustafa

Breastfeeding and IQ • Traits 1

Breastfeeding and IQ
This report was archived on 2016-07-25. Please note that this report is no longer updated and was developed using scientific criteria that
may have since been revised. The following results are based on Preliminary Research for 2 reported markers.

Introduction
Some studies have shown that breastfed children score better on IQ tests than their peers who were reared on formula. But according to a
2007 paper, only those infants with a particular version of the gene FADS2 derive the IQ benefits that come from nursing. The gene is
involved in metabolizing fatty acids, some of which are present in breast milk but not in cow's milk or most infant formulas.

Keep in mind that:

• This report describes study findings observed in groups of people. The findings may not be representative of you as an individual.
• The genetic markers reported here are associated with normal variation and generally have very small effects on the trait.
• Many factors besides those described here may influence this trait.

Effect of breastfeeding on IQ
The researchers found that being breastfed raised a person’s IQ an average of six to seven points, but only among those who had at least
one C at rs174575. Among those with a G at both copies of rs174575, breastfeeding appeared to have no effect on intelligence. This result
was found in two independent groups, one composed of 1,848 British children and the other of 858 children of European ancestry from New
Zealand. The effect associated with this SNP was larger than the one described below for rs1535, which is included for customers who do
not have data from rs174575.

Who Genotype Genetic Result

Being breastfed raised

Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Mohamed Mustafa CC subjects' IQ by 6-7
Replications: None points on average.
Contrary Studies: None
Being breastfed raised
Applicable Ethnicities: European CG subjects' IQ by 6-7 points
Marker: rs174575 on average.

Little or no effect of being

GG
breastfed on IQ.

Citations
Caspi A et al. (2007) . “Moderation of breastfeeding effects on the IQ by genetic variation in fatty acid metabolism.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
104(47):18860-5.

© 2016 23andMe, Inc. All rights reserved.

 Mohamed Mustafa

Breastfeeding and IQ • Traits 2

Effect of breastfeeding on IQ
The study found that being breastfed raised a person’s IQ an average of four to five points, but only among those who had at least one A at
rs1535 — and only in the larger of the two study groups, which consisted of 1,848 British children. Also British children with a G at both
copies of rs1535 did appear to have a small IQ benefit from breastfeeding, though their increase was significantly smaller than that of
children with one or more A copies of rs1535. Among the 858 children from New Zealand, genetics appeared to have no effect; breastfed
children of all genotypes had increased IQs.

Who Genotype Genetic Result

Being breastfed raised

Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Mohamed Mustafa AA subjects' IQ by 4-5
Replications: None points on average.
Contrary Studies: None
Being breastfed raised
Applicable Ethnicities: European AG subjects' IQ by 4-5 points
Marker: rs1535 on average.

Little or no effect of being

GG
breastfed on IQ.

Citations
Caspi A et al. (2007) . “Moderation of breastfeeding effects on the IQ by genetic variation in fatty acid metabolism.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
104(47):18860-5.

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© 2016 23andMe, Inc. All rights reserved.