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Giving babies enriched formula milk will not make them smarter, a new study has revealed.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) analysed the exam results of children at ages 11 and 16, and compared these to the type of formula milk they were fed as babies.
The results revealed that exam results were the same for children regardless of whether they received standard formula milk, or enriched formula.
In the study, published by the British Medical Journal, the researchers said: 'Differences in academic performance between modified and standard formulas were consistent with differences measured in the original trials and in the external literature; that is, no benefit of the infant formula modifications on cognitive outcomes.'
Giving babies enriched formula milk will not make them smarter, a new study has revealed (stock image)
While breastfeeding is best for infant nutrition, many parents opt for infant formulas - cows' milk that has been treated to make it more suitable for babies.
Previous research had suggested that modifying formula milk with extra proteins, carbohydrates or fats could promote brain development.
To understand if this was the case, the researchers analysed data from seven randomised controlled
