Macronutrient composition of human milk from Korean mothers of full term infants born at 37-42 gestational weeks

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESBreast milk is the best available food for optimum growth and development of infants and the breastfeeding rate is increasing in Korea. The purpose of this study is to measure the concentrations of macronutrients and to evaluate their changes according to lactation period in breast milk from lactating Korean women.SUBJECTS/METHODSMilk samples were obtained from 2,632 healthy lactating women (mean age; 32.0 ± 3.3 years), where the lactating period was up to a period of 8 months, who also volunteered to participate in the Human Milk Macronutrient Analysis Research. Lactose, protein, fat and water content in the breast milk samples were analyzed with infrared spectrometry using MilkoScan FT-2.RESULTSThe mean macronutrient composition per 100 mL of mature breast milk was 7.1 g for lactose, 1.4 g for protein and 3.0 g for fat, and energy content was 61.1 kcal. The protein concentration was significantly lower in milk samples at 1-2 weeks (2.0 g/dL) to 2-3 months (1.4 g/dL) than those at 0-1 week (2.2 g/dL), but it was similar among samples from 3-4 months to 7-8 months (1.3 g/dL). Mean lipid levels varied among different lactational period groups (2.7-3.2 g/dL), but presented no significant difference. Lactose concentration in the milk samples did not differ with lactation period. Maternal body mass index was positively related to protein and lipid breast milk contents, but was negatively related to lactose content. General linear models examining the associations between maternal variables and milk macronutrient content revealed that lactation period had a major impact on protein and lipid, but not on lactose content in breast milk.CONCLUSIONSThese results warrant future studies to explore factors that may be associated with changes in macronutrient content in human milk.

Exact determination of optimal nutritional composition for at-risk newborns tolerating enteral intake–breast milk analysis as a routine future standard in neonatal care

“…In our analysis of macronutrients (P, C, F) in breast milk samples obtained during the fi rst month after delivery, we observed a decline in protein levels in time. Our fi ndings corresponded with the dynamics presented in other studies (12). Mature milk usually contains 0.9-1.2 g/dl of protein (2).…”

“…In samples from Mother 2, the fat content gradually rose from week 1, reached maximum of 5 g/dl in the 2nd week, and then decreased up to the 4th week. This fi nding does not correlate with the dynamics shown in other studies (12). In line with the study of Bauer and Gerss, 2011 (13), our study shows that the levels of carbohydrates in the samples from Mother 2 gradually increased.…”

Correlation between human milk composition and maternal nutritional status

“…The few earlier studies investigating relationships between protein content in human milk and maternal nutritional status are contradictory. Some reporting a positive correlation between protein and maternal adiposity assessed by BMI [2,7,12,21], whereas Quinn et al [23] and Kugananthan et al [17] have found that higher percentage of fat mass but not BMI was associated with higher protein concentrations. By contrast, Bachour et al [2] reported negative association between protein content and BMI.…”

Buffered or impaired: Maternal anemia, inflammation and breast milk macronutrients in northern Kenya

“…The varied associations between milk macronutrients and maternal anemia parallel the wider literature on maternal undernutrition: Lönnerdal's seminal review published in 1986 argues that maternal malnutrition generally has little effect on total protein concentrations of milk. More recent studies, however, show a positive (Chang et al, ; Grote et al, ; Michaelsen, Skafte, Badsberg, & Jørgensen, ) or a negative (Bachour, Yafawi, Jaber, Choueiri, & Abdel‐Razzak, ) association between maternal protein‐energy status (BMI) and milk protein. Milk fat is similarly reported to have a positive association (Chang et al, ; Grote et al, ; Michaelsen et al, ; Nommsen, Lovelady, Heinig, Lönnerdal, & Dewey, ) or no association (Bachour et al, ; Mandel, Lubetzky, Dollberg, Barak, & Mimouni, ) with maternal protein‐energy deficiency.…”

“…More recent studies, however, show a positive (Chang et al, ; Grote et al, ; Michaelsen, Skafte, Badsberg, & Jørgensen, ) or a negative (Bachour, Yafawi, Jaber, Choueiri, & Abdel‐Razzak, ) association between maternal protein‐energy status (BMI) and milk protein. Milk fat is similarly reported to have a positive association (Chang et al, ; Grote et al, ; Michaelsen et al, ; Nommsen, Lovelady, Heinig, Lönnerdal, & Dewey, ) or no association (Bachour et al, ; Mandel, Lubetzky, Dollberg, Barak, & Mimouni, ) with maternal protein‐energy deficiency. Milk lactose has been described as the least affected by maternal nutritional status, yet a recent study reports a significant inverse relationship between BMI and lactose (Chang et al, ).…”