Abstract
Summary: The composition of human milk from mothers delivering prematurely (PT) and at term (T) was studied over the first weeks of lactation. Complete 24 h milk expressions were obtained by electric pump at weekly or biweekly intervals through 44 wk conceptual age (120 samples from 20 PT mothers and 28 samples from 7 T mothers). PT milk was found to contain significantly higher concentrations than T milk of the following nutrients: total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, sodium, chloride, magnesium and iron. No differences were found between T and PT milk for nonprotein nitrogen, volume, solids, total calories, lactose, fat, fatty acids, potassium or calcium. The nutrients supplied to a 33 wk preterm infant fed 200 ml/kg/day of “average” PT milk were in excess of theoretic intrauterine requirements for all substrates except calcium and phosphorus. PT human milk is theoretically more suitable for the premature infant than either mature or term human milk, but may be deficient in specific nutrients for the very low birth weight baby.
Speculation: The compositional differences in preterm milk (increased protein and mineral content) are generally characteristic of colostrum. These changes may therefore reflect a prolonged colostral phase in premature mothers who are establishing lactation by artificial means during periods of emotional stress. Thus, the changes denoted for preterm milk may reflect the circumstances surrounding the onset of lactation rather than the nutritional requirements of the preterm infant.
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Lemons, J., Moye, L., Hall, D. et al. Differences in the Composition of Preterm and Term Human Milk during Early Lactation. Pediatr Res 16, 113–117 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198202000-00007
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198202000-00007
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