Serial composition of human milk in preterm and term mothers

Abstract

Human milk samples were collected from 86 mothers included in the study on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 of lactation. The mothers were divided into three groups on the basis of gestation viz. group 1 : 37-41 weeks (n=41), group II : 33-36 (n=23) and group III : <33 weeks gestation (n=22). All the samples were analysed for the estimation of fat, lactose and protein. The results obtained from the investigations were statistically analysed. The analysis of the results revealed a lower amount of fat and lactose in preterm milk as compared to term milk (p < 0.01). These were found to increase in amount with increasing postnatal age (p < 0.05). The protein levels were observed to be significantly higher in preterm than term milk (p < 0.01). These were observed to decrease significantly with increase in postnatal age (p < 0.01). KEY WORDSFat, Human milk, Lactose, Protein.

Effect of maternal nutritional status on the biochemical composition of human milk

“…The composition of milk changes from preterm to term, at different stages of lactation, and also has diurnal variation. 3 There are very scanty recent Indian and Western data, regarding the composition of human milk and the effect of maternal nutritional status on its outcome.…”

Investigation of Short-term Variations in Term Breast Milk Composition during Repeated Breast Expression Sessions

“…1,8,9 Only a few investigators have analyzed milk samples from late lactation, and to our knowledge, no study has investigated the week-to-week macronutrient variation in established lactation despite the reports of acute changes in milk composition during this period. 1,8,9 Only a few investigators have analyzed milk samples from late lactation, and to our knowledge, no study has investigated the week-to-week macronutrient variation in established lactation despite the reports of acute changes in milk composition during this period.…”

A Pilot Study on the Protein Composition of Induced Nonpuerperal Human Milk

“…[32][33][34] Our understanding of this process is grounded in a mother's timeline from birth. [32][33][34][35] A possible explanation for the elevated protein levels in nonpuerperal milk in our study is that neither woman reached levels of milk production greater than 64 mL per day and may not have achieved the physiological changes in the mammary gland associated with stage II lactogenesis. Changes in protein composition have also been described during gradual weaning, with protein levels rising to approximately 2.0 g/dL as milk production fell below 300 mL per day.…”