Milk from human milk banks for low birthweight newborns: nutritional contents and supplementation

To determine the macronutrient and micronutrient contents of human milk from milk banks as well as to develop a supplement for addition to this milk that could satisfy the specific nutritional requirements of low birthweight newborns. For the determination of macronutrients, 46 samples of pasteurized milk obtained from two milk banks were analyzed in triplicate: 26 samples of mature milk, 10 samples of foremilk and 10 samples of milk from mothers of preterm babies. Thirty of these samples (10 of each type of milk) were also analyzed for their micronutrient content. Following the determination of macronutrients and micronutrients, an easy-to-prepare supplement was developed. The supplement was made from protein hydrolysate powder and chelate minerals. The nutritional content varied both among the different types of milk and among the donors of the same type of milk. The levels of macronutrients and micronutrients were below the requirements for low birthweight newborns. The mean composition (and standard deviation) observed for mature milk, foremilk, and preterm milk, respectively, was as follows: fats (g/100 mL), 2.56 (+/- 0.8), 2.48 (+/- 0.91), 2.48 (+/- 0.76); lactose (g/100 mL), 8.6 (+/- 0.93), 7.05 (+/- 0.92), 6.56 (+/- 1.41); protein (g/ 100 mL), 1.07 (+/- 0.22), 1.71 (+/- 0.29), 1.72 (+/- 0.4); calories (kcal/100 mL), 61.67 (+/- 8.92), 57.36 (+/- 8.37), 55.44 (+/- 8.00); calcium (mg/100 mL), 17.88 (+/- 5.56), 22.75 (+/- 10.24), 22.03 (+/- 9.39); magnesium (mg/100 mL), 2.15 (+/- 0.39), 2.64 (+/- 0.67), 2.16 (+/- 0.26); potassium (mg/100 mL), 35.53 (+/- 7.54), 43.75 (+/- 14.32), 44.37 (+/- 12.83); sodium (mg/100 mL), 16.27 (+/- 5.92), 43.36 (+/- 11.34), 37.98 (+/- 11.34); zinc (mg/100 mL), 0.46 (+/- 0.26), 0.75 (+/- 0.25), 0.72 (+/- 0.26); and phosphorus (mg/100 mL), 9.98 (+/- 1.72), 9.31 (+/- 4.30), 8.47 (+/- 2.43). After the addition of the supplement, the protein and mineral contents reached the levels recommended for low birthweight newborns. Based on our results obtained, the supplementation of human milk from milk banks is warranted for use with low birthweight newborns. The proposed supplement was shown to be practical and safe, and it did not interfere with the microbiological quality of human milk.