Language processing in breastfed infants at risk of thiamine deficiency benefits from maternal thiamine supplementation

Bibliographic Data

ID9787910
AuthorsDare Baldwin (0000-0002-1997-8143, University of Oregon, corresponding author), Dare A Baldwin, Jeffrey R Measelle (0000-0003-4229-2817, University of Oregon), Jeffrey Measelle, Lauren Gallivan (University of Oregon), Anna Sanchirico (University of Oregon), Netanel Weinstein (0000-0002-8848-2627, University of Oregon), Anaahat Bala (University of Oregon), Kathleen Chan, Kathleen L Chan (0000-0002-3872-2557, Mount Saint Vincent University), Jelisa Gallant (Mount Saint Vincent University), Mam Borath, Hou Kroeun, Frank T Wieringa (0000-0002-6010-355X, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Tim Green (0000-0002-0667-4300, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute), Tim J Green, Kyly C Whitfield (0000-0001-8315-8927, Mount Saint Vincent University)
Year2025
Volume61
Issue8
Pages1427-1440
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopmental Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0012-1649 • E-ISSN: 1939-0599
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/dev0001829
PMID39699595
OpenAlexW4405571478
LanguageEN

In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we investigated relationships between infants' exposure to thiamine and their language-processing ability. Three hundred thirty-five lactating Cambodian mothers of 161 female/174 male infants received either 0, 1.2, 2.4, or 10 mg of thiamine daily, from 2 to 24 weeks postpartum. We assessed infants' language processing at 24 weeks via the infant-directed speech (IDS) task, measuring attentional enhancement to IDS versus adult-directed speech. Maternal thiamine supplementation displayed a small but statistically significant dose-response relationship to the magnitude of infants' IDS-elicited attentional enhancement (adjusted R 2 = 0.022, p = .011). As well, only infants whose mothers received a daily thiamine supplement of 10 mg showed fully robust IDS-related attentional enhancement. These findings showcase the IDS Task for monitoring the integrity of infants' language processing and underscore the importance of adequate thiamine early in life for ensuring optimal language development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)

Developmental psychology · Language development · Randomized controlled trial · Thiamine · Thiamine deficiency · Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects · Psychology · Vitamin K Research Studies · Pediatrics