Abstract
In cows milk the influence of factors such as temperature and light on the vitamin levels have been extensively studied (1), however in human milk this has received scanty attention. We investigated the effect of the composition of the storage container, Holder pasteurization, and conditions during tube feeding on the vitamin levels of human milk. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E were not affected, but the level of several water-soluble vitamins decreased. After storage at - 20°C for 3 weeks the level of vitamin C in the polypropylene container was lower than that in the glass container (29%) but the levels of the B complex vitamins were similar. Pasteurization lowered the levels of vitamins C (36%), folacin (31%), B6 (15%) and B12 (10%) (p<0.05). Tube feeding lowered the levels of vitamins C (44%) and B6 (19%) (p<0.05), adding fototherapy increased the vitamin C losses (53%). Vitamin losses in expressed human milk prior to, or during feeding may increase the incidence of vitamin deficiencies in low birth weight babies (2). 1. Webb BH et al. Fundamentals of dairy chemistry. Westport Connecticut: The Avi Publishing Company Inc, 1974. 2. Gurr M. Human and artificial milks for infant feeding. J Dairy Res 1981; 48: 519-554.
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