Lipolytic Activity During Storage of Human Milk: Accumulation of Free Fatty Acids 1

Lipolysis was quantitated during storage of fluid and freezedried human whole and skim milks. Fatty acid accumulation was faster in whole fluid milk stored for 1 week at 4°C than in frozen (-20°C) samples stored for 180 d. The rapid accumulation of fatty acids during 24 h of storage at 4°C was enhanced in previously frozen milk samples. While freeze-dried whole milk showed no lipolysis when stored at -20°C, accumulation of free fatty acids was rapid in samples stored at room temperature. Fluid and freeze-dried skim milk samples exhibited no appreciable lipolysis.