361 - A Comparative Analysis of Nutrient Composition of Preterm Mothers Milk and Donor Human Milk

Friday, April 28, 2023

5:15 PM – 7:15 PM ET

Poster Number: 361
Publication Number: 361.101

Amy M. Gates, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Clarks Hill, SC, United States; Amy Thompson, Children's Hospital of Georgia, AUGUSTA, GA, United States; Brian Stansfield, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Amy M. Gates, PhD, RDN, LD

Associate medial director evidence generation and clinical trials
Mead Johnson Nutrition
Clarks Hill, South Carolina, United States

Background: Human milk (HM) is the standard of care for feeding preterm infants. When mother’s own milk (MOM) is not available, donor human milk (DHM) is often substituted. Preterm MOM is thought to be more nutrient dense than DHM; unfortunately, direct comparisons of the nutrient composition between preterm MOM and DHM have not been performed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the nutrient profiles of a cross-sectional sampling of DHM with samples of preterm MOM.

Design/Methods: DHM was purchased from two for-profit milk banks (NiQ, Prolacta Bioscience) and five not-for-profit milks banks (Human Milk Banking Association of North America) representing seven states. Preterm MOM samples were collected on lactation days 7 and 28 from mothers who delivered at £ 32 weeks estimated gestational age. Samples were shipped overnight to Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories (New Berlin, WI) where they were analyzed for calories (energy), total fat, protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Results:

Sixteen samples from seven human banks and thirty-six samples of preterm MOM were analyzed. Carbohydrate (p=0.9631), calcium (p=0.2889), phosphorus (p=0.1251) did not differ significantly between MOM and DHM. Protein was higher in preterm MOM than in DHM (p=< 0.0001). Calories, (p=0.04278), fat (p=0.0221) and magnesium (p=0.0051) were higher in DHM than in preterm MOM.

Conclusion(s): This study provides substantial insight into the nutrient content of DHM and preterm MOM and provides reference comparisons for practitioners using preterm MOM- and DHM-based diets.