母乳對早產(chǎn)兒腦部發(fā)育更有利

Babies born before their due date show better brain development when fed breast milk rather than formula, a study has found.

一項新研究表明，對于早產(chǎn)兒來說，母乳喂養(yǎng)比配方奶粉更有利于大腦的發(fā)育。

Experts say that helping mothers to provide breast milk in the weeks after giving birth could improve long-term outcomes for children born pre-term.

專家表示，如果能幫助媽媽們在剛分娩后的幾周內(nèi)催乳，并拿母乳喂養(yǎng)孩子，從長期來看好處多多。

Premature birth has been linked to an increased possibility of problems with learning and thinking skills in later life, which are thought to be linked to alterations in brain development.

在未來的學(xué)習(xí)和思考中，早產(chǎn)兒的大腦發(fā)育很可能受到影響，畢竟我們也知道，學(xué)習(xí)和思考又是與大腦發(fā)育緊密相連的。

Studies have shown that pre-term birth is associated with changes in the part of the brain's structure that helps brain cells to communicate with one another, known as white matter.

研究表明，早產(chǎn)兒的大腦結(jié)構(gòu)可能與正常出生的孩子相比，有一定的變化;而正是這種結(jié)構(gòu)幫助大腦細(xì)胞與腦脊髓蛋白質(zhì)交流。

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied MRI brain scans from 47 babies from a study group known as the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort.

愛丁堡大學(xué)的研究人員研究了47個嬰兒的核磁共振腦部掃描，這些嬰兒來自一個名為 Theirworld Edinburgh 出生隊列。

The babies had been born before 33 weeks gestation and scans took place when they reached term-equivalent age, an average of 40 weeks from conception.

這些嬰兒都是在媽媽肚子里呆了33周就出來了，而一般媽媽都是懷胎40周才接生。

The team also collected information about how the infants had been fed while in intensive care—either formula milk or breast milk from either the mother or a donor.

研究小組還調(diào)查了嬰兒在重癥監(jiān)護(hù)期間是靠什么來維系生命的，究竟是母乳，還是配方奶粉。

Babies who exclusively received breast milk for at least three-quarters of the days they spent in hospital showed improved brain connectivity compared with others.

大部分時間都是經(jīng)由母乳喂養(yǎng)的嬰兒，與其他嬰兒相比，大腦之間連接更緊密。

The effects were greatest in babies who were fed breast milk for a greater proportion of their time spent in intensive care.

在重癥監(jiān)護(hù)期間，那些大部分時間都是母乳喂養(yǎng)的嬰兒，受到的影響是最大的。

The study was funded by the charity Theirworld and was carried out in the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory at the University's Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health. It is published in the journal NeuroImage.

這項研究由慈善機(jī)構(gòu) Theirworld 資助，并在大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)研究理事會的詹妮弗布朗研究實(shí)驗(yàn)室進(jìn)行。 研究結(jié)果已發(fā)表在《神經(jīng)圖像》雜志上。

Professor James Boardman, Director of the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Our findings suggest that brain development in the weeks after preterm birth is improved in babies who receive greater amounts of breast milk.

來自愛丁堡大學(xué)詹妮弗 · 布朗研究實(shí)驗(yàn)室的詹姆斯 · 博德曼教授說:"我們的研究結(jié)果表明，在嬰兒獲得更多的母乳后，在早產(chǎn)后的幾周內(nèi)，大腦發(fā)育會得到改善。

"This study highlights the need for more research to understand the role of early life nutrition for improving long-term outcomes for pre-term babies.Mothers of pre-term babies should be supported to provide breast milk while their baby is in neonatal care—if they are able to and if their baby is well enough to receive milk—because this may give their children the best chance of healthy brain development."

目前僅憑這點(diǎn)結(jié)果是不具有太強(qiáng)的說服力的，后續(xù)應(yīng)當(dāng)有更深入的研究，這樣我們就能了解早期營養(yǎng)對改善早產(chǎn)兒的大腦發(fā)育狀況究竟有何長期影響。我們應(yīng)該提倡早產(chǎn)兒的母親在新生兒護(hù)理期間盡可能多地采取母乳喂養(yǎng)，當(dāng)然，前提是她們能夠提供，這樣他們的寶寶能夠得到足夠的奶水，而這可能給他們的孩子提供健康發(fā)育大腦的最佳機(jī)會。”

Sarah Brown, President and Trustee of Theirworld, said: "I am so proud of the achievements of the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory. This latest report delivers valuable evidence to support breast milkfeeding for even the tiniest, most vulnerable premature babies, to give them the best start in life.

Theirworld總裁和受托人莎拉 · 布朗說:"我為詹妮弗 · 布朗研究實(shí)驗(yàn)室的成就感到驕傲。 這份最新的報告讓我們了解到即使是最小的、最脆弱的早產(chǎn)兒，母乳喂養(yǎng)都能讓他們有一個更好的開端。

"An immense debt of gratitude is due to the families of the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort, who are dedicated to sharing information to support their own little ones, and benefit many other premature babies in the future."

當(dāng)然，我們也要感謝這些嬰兒背后的家庭，是他們慷慨奉獻(xiàn)、給予了我們實(shí)驗(yàn)最大的支持，為造福于未來的早產(chǎn)兒們貢獻(xiàn)了自己的力量。”