Macronutrient and bioactive profiles of donor milk differ in commercial vs non-profit milk banks.

OBJECTIVE

Characterize variation of macronutrient and bioactive composition between levels of human milk-derived human milk fortifier (HM-HMF), and between donor human milk (DHM) from commercial vs non-profit banks.

STUDY

DESIGN

Macronutrients, Immunoglobulin A (IgA), and cortisol levels were measured in 10 lots of each HM-HMF product (20, 24, 26, 28, and 30 (n = 5) kcal/oz), including both "ready to feed" products and fortifiers reconstituted in donor milk.

RESULTS

Caloric density, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and total IgA concentration generally increased with the level of HM-HMF labeled caloric density, while cortisol concentration did not. Protein concentration of DHM did not differ between commercial and non-profit milk banks. Carbohydrates, fat, calories, and cortisol were higher, and IgA was lower in DHM from a commercial milk bank. Lot-to-lot variability of all components, besides cortisol, was lower in commercial DHM.

CONCLUSION

Macronutrient composition and variability differ in DHM from commercial vs non-profit milk banks.