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The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 897–900 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Premature infants often receive pasteurized donor human milk when mothers are unable to provide their own milk. This study aims to establish the effect of the pasteurization process on a range of trace elements in donor milk.

Study Design:

Breast milk was collected from 16 mothers donating to the milk bank at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Samples were divided into pre- and post-pasteurization aliquots and were Holder pasteurized. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to analyze the trace elements zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), iodine (I), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo) and bromine (Br). Differences in trace elements pre- and post-pasteurization were analyzed.

Results:

No significant differences were found between the trace elements tested pre- and post-pasteurization, except for Fe (P<0.05). The median (interquartile range, 25 to 75%; μg l−1) of trace elements for pre- and post- pasteurization aliquots were—Zn: 1639 (888–4508), 1743 (878–4143), Cu: 360 (258–571), 367 (253–531), Se: 12.34 (11.73–17.60), 12.62 (11.94–16.64), Mn: (1.48 (1.01–1.75), 1.49 (1.11–1.75), I (153 (94–189), 158 (93–183), Fe (211 (171–277), 194 (153–253), Mo (1.46 (0.37–2.99), 1.42 (0.29–3.73) and Br (1066 (834–1443), 989 (902–1396).

Conclusions:

Pasteurization had minimal effect on several trace elements in donor breast milk but high levels of inter-donor variability of trace elements were observed. The observed decrease in the iron content of pasteurized donor milk is, however, unlikely to be clinically relevant.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the RBWH Milk Bank, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Eugene Lee for the technical laboratory assistance by Inorganic Chemistry, Queensland Health Forensic & Scientific Services, Australia. Nor Mohd-Taufek is sponsored by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland,, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    N Mohd-Taufek, A K Hewavitharana, P N Shaw & K Whitfield

  2. Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Metro North Health Services District, Herston, QLD, Australia

    D Cartwright, M Davies, P Koorts, H McConachy & K Whitfield

  3. Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    D Cartwright, M Davies & P Koorts

  4. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    R Sumner

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  1. N Mohd-Taufek
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Correspondence to K Whitfield.

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Mohd-Taufek, N., Cartwright, D., Davies, M. et al. The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk. J Perinatol 36, 897–900 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.88

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