28 - A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D, and Magnesium in Donor Human Milk from Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Milk Banks in The United States

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 28
Publication Number: 28.201

Amy M. Gates, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Clarks Hill, SC, United States; Brian Stansfield, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; Amy Thompson, Children's Hospital of Georgia, 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: Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D work together to promote bone development. Preterm infants miss the late placental transfer of these nutrients and human milk-based diets lack sufficient composition to adequately replenish nutrients, which may contribute to osteopenia. Donor human milk (DHM) is the standard of care for feeding preterm infants when mother’s own milk (MOM) is not available.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to quantify calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D2, vitamin D3, and magnesium in DHM to guide supplementation practices.

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. Samples were shipped overnight to Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories (New Berlin, WI) where they were analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D2, and vitamin D3.

Results:

Sixteen unique samples from seven human banks were analyzed. Calcium ranged from 19.2 to 32.1 mg/dL (mean 25.8 ± 2.6 mg/dL), phosphorus ranged from 11.3 to 16.3 g/dL (mean 13.5 ± 1.4 mg/dL), magnesium ranged from 2.8 to 6.1 mg/dL (mean 3.5 ± 0.8 mg/dL). Vitamin D2 was not detected in any sample at a threshold of 0.04 IU/dL. Vitamin D3 ranged from 0 to 16 IU/dL (mean 1.92 ± 4.6 IU/dL).

Conclusion(s):

This study provides substantial insight into the nutrient content of DHM and provides reference values to help guide supplementation of nutrients necessary for bone development.