High-Temperature Short-Time and Holder Pasteurization of Donor Milk: Impact on Milk Composition.

Diana Escuder-Vieco,Carmen Rosa Pallás-Alonso,Alba García-Serrano,Juan M Rodríguez,José Serrano,Javier Fontecha,M Visitación Calvo,Antonia Montilla,Nieves Corzo,Leónides Fernández,Irene Espinosa-Martos

doi:10.3390/life11020114

Abstract

Holder pasteurization (HoP; 62.5 °C, 30 min) is commonly used to ensure the microbiological safety of donor human milk (DHM) but diminishes its nutritional properties. A high-temperature short-time (HTST) system was designed as an alternative for human milk banks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of this HTST system on different nutrients and the bile salt stimulated lipase (BSSL) activity of DHM. DHM was processed in the HTST system and by standard HoP. Macronutrients were measured with a mid-infrared analyzer. Lactose, glucose, myo-inositol, vitamins and lipids were assayed using chromatographic techniques. BSSL activity was determined using a kit. The duration of HTST treatment had a greater influence on the nutrient composition of DHM than did the tested temperature. The lactose concentration and the percentage of phospholipids and PUFAs were higher in HTST-treated than in raw DHM, while the fat concentration and the percentage of monoacylglycerides and SFAs were lower. Other nutrients did not change after HTST processing. The retained BSSL activity was higher after short HTST treatment than that following HoP. Overall, HTST treatment resulted in better preservation of the nutritional quality of DHM than HoP because relevant thermosensitive components (phospholipids, PUFAs, and BSSL) were less affected.

Highlights

The composition of human milk is dynamic and depends on different factors, including host genetics, environment and gestational age [1]
When own mother’s milk (OMM) is unavailable or in short supply for meeting the nutritional requirements of preterm infants, which is common in neonatal intensive care units, the best alternative is the use of donor human milk (DHM) [4]
The mean (SEM) lactose concentration in the DHM samples obtained from the unprocessed batches was 76.4 (0.3) g/L when measured by FT-MID spectroscopy

Summary

Introduction

The composition of human milk is dynamic and depends on different factors, including host genetics, environment and gestational age [1]. Own mother’s milk (OMM) is widely acknowledged as the best feeding option for preterm infants [2]. When OMM is unavailable or in short supply for meeting the nutritional requirements of preterm infants, which is common in neonatal intensive care units, the best alternative is the use of donor human milk (DHM) [4]. DHM pasteurization at 62.5 ◦ C for 30 min (Holder pasteurization; HoP) is the most commonly used treatment in human milk banks (HMB) to ensure its microbiological safety. This heating treatment has a negative impact on some of the nutritional and bioactive properties of human milk [5,6]

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Conclusion