Dairy Foods for Nutritional and Cognitive Development in Infants

0 min read July 16, 2024

Reviewed by Megan Maisano, M.S., R.D.N.

Top Benefits of Dairy For Cognitive Development in Infancy

The American Academy of Pediatrics identified 14 nutrients critical to a child’s early brain development.
Two of these nutrients, iodine and choline, play a key role in developing a baby’s rapidly growing brain in the first 1,000 days and are both found in dairy foods.
Consuming dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt during pregnancy and early childhood can support optimal brain growth, prenatal nutrition, and cognitive development.

Many people can name vitamins such as A, D and C, as well as protein, zinc and iron. But there are two lesser-known critical nutrients that may sound more fitting for a high school chemistry lesson. And they’re key to a baby’s brain development.

Iodine and choline are among 14 nutrients the American Academy of Pediatrics recognize for their capacity to help up-and-coming generations meet their cognitive potential. What you may not know is that each is found in milk.

“Many of us don’t hear about iodine or choline too often, but they both play an important role in early brain development,” said Megan Maisano, a registered dietitian with National Dairy Council. “In fact, research shows that intake of iodine and choline during pregnancy is positively associated with child cognitive outcomes.”

The Connection Between Prenatal Nutrition and Infant Cognitive Development

Human brains grow more rapidly from conception to a child’s second birthday than during any other period. This period is referred to as “the first 1,000 days" where each moment matters, especially considering a baby has about 10,000 brain cells in the first month of pregnancy and 10 billion by six months of pregnancy. Proper nutrition during this time is valuable for infant cognitive development.

“This truly is a window of opportunity to nourish that brain development,” Maisano said. “It’s really important that individuals of reproductive age are aware of these nutrients and strive to meet their needs through food and prenatal supplements.”

One brain-building food group may come as a surprise to some people: dairy—like milk, cheese and yogurt. Of those 14 nutrients identified by AAP as important for brain growth, dairy foods contain seven, including iodine and choline.

Foods for Pregnancy That Support Cognitive Brain Development

Milk, Cheese and Yogurt

Vitamin B12: Supports brain development and function
- Plays an important role in DNA synthesis and myelination in the nervous system
Iodine: Essential for healthy neurocognitive development and the prevention of intellectual disability
- Required for thyroid hormones which play a role in the development, regulation and communication of brain cells
Protein: Critical component for brain growth and development
- As an essential part of our cells, tissue, organs and neurotransmitters, it is key for cell proliferation, neural growth factors and brain development
Selenium: Antioxidant that plays an important role in neurodevelopment
- Supports thyroid hormone metabolism and DNA synthesis, important for brain function and antioxidant regulation

Fortified Dairy Products (e.g., fortified milk or cheese)

Vitamin D: Supports fetal brain development and optimal neurodevelopment (most milks and some yogurts are fortified)
- Vitamin D signaling can affect important events in brain development such as neuronal axon growth, neurotransmitter synthesis, nerve growth and brain function
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Major component of brain tissues, necessary for healthy growth and function (found in specialty fortified milks)
- DHA, in particular, is a major component of brain tissue that is required for healthy cell membranes and neurotransmission
Vitamin A: Plays an important role in the developing central nervous system (found in whole milk and fortified reduced fat milks)
- Supports the regulation of gene expression, neuron al differentiation and neural tube patterning

Benefits of Nutrients Such as Iodine for Infants

Dairy foods are classified as a good or excellent source of iodine. Just one 8-ounce glass of milk provides nearly 60% of the recommended daily value of iodine.

For choline, eggs and meat have the highest content per serving size. However, because dairy foods are widely consumed, they are one of the top sources in Americans’ diets, making up about 13% of choline consumption. One 8-ounce glass of milk provides about 8% of our daily value.

Yet, the significance of these nutrients largely goes unnoticed. Most Americans aren’t consuming enough choline. Only about 10% of all Americans and 8% of pregnant women meet recommendations.

It’s not much better with iodine. A recent study of U.S. girls and women found that many Americans may not be meeting their iodine needs, and intakes actually declined between 2011 and 2020. This is troubling because iodine recommendations increase by 50% during pregnancy.

Marina Chaparro, a pediatric dietitian who founded Nutrichicos and created an online course on how to feed toddlers, has seen her share of blank stares from clients when she discusses the essential role iodine and choline can play

“Pregnancy is a time of so many changes, and there’s a lot going on mentally, physically and emotionally. But I hardly have moms say, ‘I'm worried about my baby’s brain development,’” Chaparro said. “They’re thinking about everyday things like ‘Can I have coffee if I'm pregnant? What foods are safe to eat?’ But their child’s brain health is not top of mind for them.”

Another dietitian, Ryann Kipping, who specializes in prenatal nutrition and health, said matters are made worse with an overwhelming and confusing sea of information, including from online sources. This is why she created The Prenatal Nutrition Library and has built a strong social media presence to help clear the clutter and be a reliable go-to resource for expecting parents.

“We’re in this era of information overwhelm where people don’t know who to trust, who to believe,” Kipping said. “They go to their doctor, but doctors aren’t always nutrition experts so where does that leave them? They turn to social media and the internet because they have no other choice.”

Medical Professionals’ Expert Take on Iodine For Cognitive Development in Infancy

Both dietitians emphasize the importance of infant brain development with their clients, and they introduce dairy as an easy solution to meet these critical needs. Folate has long been a recommended nutrient during pregnancy, and there’s growing awareness of the roles iodine and choline play as well.

“Even as a dietitian, I wasn’t as aware of iodine until I really started to dig deeper,” Chaparro said. “And that’s the beauty about dairy – it’s not just about one nutrient. It’s iodine and much more, and it’s so versatile and affordable that it can fit everybody’s needs and families.”

Kipping even hears from clients who say they crave dairy. Research supports food cravings during pregnancy is a common phenomenon across cultures.

“People are relying on dairy milk because it satisfies a huge craving during pregnancy,” Kipping said. “Anytime I talk about milk on social media, I will have hundreds of comments from people saying milk was their biggest craving. Your body is telling you whatever you need … and the good thing is people are listening to it.”

Dr. Sun Lee, assistant professor of medicine at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, is an endocrinologist who has been interested in iodine nutrition as it relates to thyroid function, especially in pregnancy and its impact on cognitive development in infancy.

“We know that adequate iodine is critical for brain development in babies, especially during pregnancy,” Lee said. “It is largely related to iodine’s role in thyroid hormone production, as the thyroid hormone plays an important role in a baby’s normal development, especially brain development.”

Lee said the most dramatic evidence of the adverse impact of chronic severe iodine deficiency is cretinism, which was seen in the early 1900s. Babies were born with significant motor and cognitive development and growth delays. Research trials showed treating pregnant women with iodine eradicated cretinism.

Further, chronic iodine deficiency, especially in pregnancy, has been associated with decreased IQ and adverse pregnancy outcomes and development of goiter.

“There is a general consensus in the scientific community that severe iodine deficiency is detrimental to human health, including cognition,” Lee said. “What is less known is the potential impact of mild to moderate iodine deficiency, especially in pregnancy, since pregnancy is a special time with increased iodine needs for maternal and fetal health.”

“With changing trends in dietary habits, including a decrease in dairy intake and increased use of specialty, non-iodized salt, I think it is important to raise awareness of the potential impact of iodine deficiency, especially in pregnancy.”

Katie Brown, Ed.D., R.D.N., who serves as president of National Dairy Council, agrees that increased awareness of iodine is crucial. She feels the medical and health professional communities would benefit from more nutrition training and collaboration with registered dietitians to reach more pregnant women.

Brown also supports routine food insecurity screenings to ensure those in need have access to programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

The World Health Organization has acknowledged that iodine deficiency is the most preventable cause of intellectual disability, and Brown said a big step begins with simply understanding the value of nutrition.

“I became a dietitian to help people realize their best selves through food and nutrition, and if there’s one time in life when it’s most important to get nutrition right, it’s during pregnancy,” Brown said.

“There are really simple whole-food solutions, such as consuming dairy for brains, bones and bodies. Let this compelling evidence on the importance of diet empower all of us to start every child on a pathway to lifelong wellness. We don’t get those first 1,000 days back.”