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Effects of prolonged freezing on the integrity of human milk
Author(s) -
Ahrabi Ali Faraghi,
Handa Deepali,
Codipilly Champa N,
Shah Syed,
Potak Debra,
Schanler Richard J
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.629.4
Subject(s) - lactoferrin , food science , gram , chemistry , zoology , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Objective Recommendations for the duration of freezer storage of fresh human milk are variable. We examined the effects on the integrity of human milk after 9 months of freezer storage of both fresh and previously refrigerated milk. Methods 100 ml of freshly expressed human milk from mothers (n=40) in the NICU was divided into 9 aliquots: 1 baseline was stored at −80°C. Four aliquots were stored at −20°C (FF, Fresh‐Frozen), and 4 were stored for 72 h at 4°C before transfer to −20°C (RF, Refrigerated‐Frozen). After 1, 3, 6, and 9 months, milk integrity was assessed by measurements of pH, protein, sIgA, lactoferrin, and total, Gram + and Gram – bacterial colony counts. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results Total bacteria declined over time from baseline mean of 1.2 × 10 5 to 0.004 ×10 5 colony counts at 9 mo, p<0.001, and more so in RF than FF, p<0.001. A similar decline was observed with Gram + and Gram – bacteria, p<0.001. pH declined over time from 7.1 ± 0.1 [mean ± SEM] to 6.3 ± 0.1 units at 9 mo, more so in RF (6.26 ± 0.1 at 9 mo) than FF, p<0.001. There were no changes over time in protein, sIgA, and lactoferrin. Conclusions Prolonged freezer storage does not adversely affect the integrity of human milk. Refrigeration followed by prolonged freezer storage does not adversely affect the integrity of human milk.