We developed a type of evaporated human milk that can be used as a fully homologous HMF (Nutrition Research 1996;16:769-72). After human milk evaporation the nutrient levels increased on average 3 to 4 times, except for fat and lactose. A prospective study was conducted on 36 VLBW- infants with birth weight <1500 g to evaluate the acceptability and growth of infants fed own mother's milk fortified with the natural fortifier (1/4 evaporated human milk, 3/4 own mother's milk, 17 infants) or a commercial HMF (Eoprotin 4%, Milupa GmbH & Co.KG, Germany, 19 infants) as control. Infants whose mother had enough milk were included in the study as soon as they were stable as full feds on 160 ml/kg/d. They were randomly divided into two groups, each receiving one of the two fortifiers, and were followed up for 30 days on their diets. The team that provided care for the infants and administered the milk types was unaware of the type of diet that was being offered. Acceptability was checked at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week. Only one case of vomiting(in the control group) and no abnormal crying was observed. The mean ±(SD) number of evacuations was 3.07 ± 1.25 for the study group and 1.89± 1.19 for the control group (p=0.01). No infant presented diarrhea or constipation. The initial and final anthropometric parameters were similar for all groups. There was adequate growth in terms of weight, length, skull, chest and arm circumferences, and subscapular and tricipital skinfolds. The gain(final minus initial values), although adequate for both groups, was higher in terms of weight (25.9 ± 5.52 vs 21.6 ± 6.71 g/d, p=0.04) and length (4.56 ± 1.04 vs 3.69 ± 0.81 cm/30 days, p=0.01) in the group that received the commercial fortifier.

We conclude that the evaporated human milk used as HMF did not cause any discomfort to the infants and, like the commercial HMF, promoted adequate growth. The ongoing metabolic studies will permit a safer evaluation before the use of this absolutely homologous way of feeding VLBW- infants is recommended. Funded by Milupa GmbH & Co.KG, Germany.