Breastfeeding improves vision, lowers risk of diabetes, and even helps you move up in the world.

A study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that breastfed babies have better vision at 4-6 years old than babies who were with formula (with or without DHA and ARA).

Reuters Health reports:

"Our study," Dr. Atul Singhal of the Institute of Child Health, London, told Reuters Health, "adds to the growing evidence that breast-feeding has long-term benefits for visual development..."

When they were tested, breast-fed children were significantly more likely to have greater stereo-acuity than did children in either formula-fed group. There were no significant differences between children who did or did not receive formula containing DHA.

In a separate study, researchers conducting a meta-analysis of studies on breastfeeding and diabetes risk found that breastfeeding reduces Type II diabetes later in life.  The protective effect of breastfeeding against Type I diabetes has been known for some time.

And finally, a British study (pdf) has found a fascinating correlation between breastfeeding in infancy and upward social mobility.  In a study of children in England and Scotland from the 1930's to the late 1990's, researchers found that children who were breastfed were 41% more likely to move up in social class in adulthood.  This effect was still seen when controlling for multiple nutritional and social factors.  And here's the funny part:  the longer a child was breastfed, the greater the odds that the child would move up in the world! 

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